White Wine

Chardonnay

Chardonnay has incredible versatility and can be picked over quite a wide range of sugar levels and flavour ripeness.

The variety takes its name from the village of Chardonnay near Uchizy in the Mâconnais, in southern Burgundy. A region gaining in reputation for the production of delicious Chardonnay. Thought to have originated from Sâone-et-Loire between Lyon and Dijon.

Where is it grown?

Burgundy is the mythical home of Chardonnay. From there it spreads far and wide across the world. One of the three main varieties of Champagne production, we also see massive plantings in Australia and North America. You’ll find it somewhere in pretty much every wine growing country.
In Australia 340,000 tonnes of Chardonnay grapes are harvested each year over four times more than the No.2 white grape in Australia, Sauvignon Blanc!

What does it taste like?

There are a vast array of flavours, aromas, and, textures that Chardonnay can offer from the fruit alone, add in use of solid, fermentation vessels like oak, eggs, and tanks, and, malolactic fermentation, the sky is the limit.

Chardonnay has incredible versatility and can be picked over quite a wide range of sugar levels and flavour ripeness. The same vineyard can be picked with enough sugar to make a wine of 10-11% alcohol for sparkling production and then 14% for table wine with anything in between possible. Picked earlier it tends to have more citrus and green apple characters. Picked ripper the natural acidity drops and the flavours progress through stone fruit, to pineapple, fig and melon.

The hand of the winemaker has been particularly evident in Australia over the last 20 years. Starting with big, broad, alcoholic full malo styles in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the pendulum swung to the lean, acid driven styles in Australia in the mid-00’s, with some down right mean wines produced in the cooler climates like the Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Mornington, and, Tasmania.  Currently, styles have found balance with generosity and elegance. Australian Chardonnay is the best it has ever been. Restrained oak use is thankfully the norm, and, globally we are seeing greater use of larger oak barrels, reducing the influence of any new oak.

Use of wild fermentation, malolactic fermentation and grape solids in ferments can add an array of secondary aromas and flavours, nuttiness, creaminess, bakery notes, butteriness, funk.

Some makers have played heavily with reduction in Chardonnay often resulting in flinty, burnt match characters.

In Burgundy, climate change, just as in Australia (along with mature vineyards) has seen picking times bought forward with sugar levels maintaining. The degree of chaptalisation in Burgundy is reducing and is often not required at all.

Check out all the articles in the Wine Bites Mag exploring Chardonnay.


Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnays


Tapanappa Goes Back to Back!

***RE-STOCKED***

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5m Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Picadilly Valley, Australia

The build in intensity of this very complete wine is clear. Yes the acid is there, it has the depth and length to hold it. The mid-palate weight is exceptional and oak use (⅓ new) refined, layered and harmonious. Perfumed with white flowers, a little baking spice crème pat. Super citrus, white grapefruit and stunning intense lime. Tasting the 3 side by side as a great way to explore depth, length and shape of fruit. The separator from so many Chardonnays on the market is the texture,
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Picadilly Valley, Australia

The evenness of the weight through the palate is exceptional. The textural finesse and length outstanding. Layered beautiful wine. Stunning build of flavour and intensity with chalky fine acid. Incredibly complete and harmonious. Restraint with power. Now there's a trick! The 2022 Tapanappa Chardonnays are superb wines that will age beautifully. Looking forward to see what they look like in 5-10-20 years. This is an exceptional wines that will challenge many a village wine from Puligny &
$109
$104ea in any 3+
$99ea in any 6+

The texture, shape and flow separate Tapanappa’s incarnations from so many Chardonnays on the market. They feel so complete and harmonious. I’d happily devour all 3 of the 2022 Chardonnays, each representing a clear jump in quality to match the pricing as you step up.

Tasting the 3 side by side as a great way to explore depth, length and shape of fruit.

The 2022 Tapanappa Chardonnays are superb wines that will age beautifully. Looking forward to see what they look like in 5-10-20 years.

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Showing 207 Delicious Wines!

A discreet application of wood suffuses the restrained and beautifully layered nose of mineral reduction, iodine, tidal pool, white orchard fruit and a vague hint of phenolic character. The super-sleek, dense and intense broad-shouldered flavors possess a palate etching mouthfeel while delivering simply remarkable length on the stony, austere and very dry finale that is akin to rolling small rocks around the mouth. The intensity really builds as it sits on the palate and overall, this beauty is
Simply Delicious

Hoddles Creek Estate Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Yarra Valley, Australia

Perfect intro to Hoddle's Creek Chardonnay! Cool Upper Yarra Valley Fruit = Wine of Poise & Great Intensity! Cool(ish) year, small yields. This is the best HCE Chardonnay I can recall tasting. White peach, green pear, a little citrus, fine spicy oak, almond, discreet struck match. It’s tight, but has flavour, plenty of flinty and chalky texture, ripe lemon and lemon peel, almond biscotti and green olive, firm crunch of pure acidity, and a long and racy finish that so mouth-watering and zest

Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay | South Australia, Adelaide Hills

The evenness of the weight through the palate is exceptional. The textural finesse and length outstanding. Layered beautiful wine. Stunning build of flavour and intensity with chalky fine acid. Incredibly complete and harmonious. Restraint with power. Now there's a trick!
$45
$42ea in any 3+
$39ea in any 6+

A.Rodda ‘Baxendale’ Whitlands Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Victoria, Australia

The latest addition to Adrian's Chardonnay range. The Baxendale is supple plush, clean & long. For mine the most immediately approachable Australian Chardonnay just keeps getting better and better. Last year I was tasting a line of OK white Burgundy then moved onto A.Rodda's Chardonnays & BOOM! They're superb wines. The Baxendale is supple plush, clean & long. For mine the most immediately approachable. The acid a bit more resolved. Oak nicely balanced, edge of pithy stuff. Florals, c
$52
$49ea in any 3+
$46ea in any 6+

Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020

Chardonnay | South Island, New Zealand

Pure with tension, balanced & rich with a refreshing textural acid. Mid-palate weight is excellent with layers of textural lees and funk ~ excellent! Chardonnay with flavour. As it warms in the glass the expression continues. Long, fine, even & flowing with a saline twist this is very good drinking at the price point. It has all the high notes giving energy to the wine.
$56
$53ea in any 3+
$50ea in any 6+
It's the texture and flow that separate Shaun's Dapple wines from others! Excellent density, line and length with chalky, mineral ,saline acid and succulent fruit. Serious mid-palate depth. Calm and patient winemaking showing. After 4 hours in the glass only a month after bottling, it starts to reveal itself. White flowers and that trademark lick of reduction wrap a core of fruit that shows depth only achieved with vine age. Let alone a 30% crop reduction.  Excellent flow.
$58
$55ea in any 3+
$52ea in any 6+

Domaine Roland Lavantureux Petit Chablis 2020

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

“Here is the only wine that with 100% stainless-steel for all vinification and elevage. All from Lignorelles. That’s a very friendly nose – slightly round and faintly caramel despite tank elevage – an inviting sweetness. A little touch of green in the flavours but also lots of energy and citrus bitters. Very engaging, tasty wine. Long too.” Bill Nanson
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5m Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Picadilly Valley, Australia

The build in intensity of this very complete wine is clear. Yes the acid is there, it has the depth and length to hold it. The mid-palate weight is exceptional and oak use (⅓ new) refined, layered and harmonious. Perfumed with white flowers, a little baking spice crème pat. Super citrus, white grapefruit and stunning intense lime. Tasting the 3 side by side as a great way to explore depth, length and shape of fruit. The separator from so many Chardonnays on the market is the texture,
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+

A.Rodda ‘Smiths’ Beechworth Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Victoria, Australia

When I first came across Adrian's wines, tasting a line of OK white Burgundy they highlighted just how far Australian Chardonnay has come in the last 30 years. They're superb wines. The Smith's has a lovely generous core of fruit. Balanced by a juicy line of acid. Fine texture, so pure, long and delicious. Still very youthful. A year or two in bottle will do wonders. A nice little bit of funk layers in, feels a little like a pillow for your tongue! The flavours build after you've swallowed it
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+

A.Rodda ‘Willow Lake’ Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay | Yarra Valley, Australia

The Willow Lake has excellent depth and length, with the acid to match the fruit intensity. It needs the most time to resolve of Adrian's 3 Chardonnays. When it does it is going to be freaky good. Australian Chardonnay just keeps getting better and better. Last year I was tasting a line of OK white Burgundy then moved onto A.Rodda's Chardonnays & BOOM! They're superb wines. The Willow Lake has excellent depth and length, with the acid to match the fruit intensity. It needs the most time t
$61
$58ea in any 3+
$55ea in any 6+
Showing exactly how important vine age is! A step up, an extra zip of salty acid and that mid palate weight with excellent length. Florals, white stone fruit a little citrus pith and plenty of fun. That slight primary edge that disappeared as it opened revealing excellent depth and length with restraint. A little more complexity. Mid palate texture is excellent. Hazelnuts and an extra layer of pleasure here. Excellent.
$67
$64ea in any 3+
$61ea in any 6+

Domaine Thibert Mâcon-Prissé ‘en Chailloux’ 2018

Chardonnay | Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgundy

This is superb, and it's just the entry level wine! Palpable energy here, picked at an excellent point. Superbly balanced, saline, a little chalky. Very fresh. The texture is so fine, gliding along your tongue. The spectrum of fruit flavours covered is both complex and seamless with pops of cleverly handled lees work, the meal and oats Euan mentions. This glimmers green/gold in the glass. Aromatically evoking ripe yellow fruits, meal and oat with some stony nuances. The palate has flavors
$67
$63ea in any 3+
$59ea in any 6+

Domaine Testut Chablis Vielles Vignes 2019

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

The pedigree of this fruit at the Chablis level is pretty bloody good! It's from a 50 year old parcel adjacent to the Grand Cru, Blanchot! Bloody tasty Village. Beautifully weighted and developed. Often at this level Chablis can be thin and raw. Testut here, as with all his wines shows a deft touch in raise the wine and building generosity. A wine that can be hoovered now, it’ll drink well over the next few years. Great flow across your palate, fine, sophisticated, perfect everyday drinking
$67
$64ea in any 3+
$61ea in any 6+

Georges Deschamps Chablis 2022

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

A richer more immediately generous iteration than the 2021 yet with a delicacy and elegance. Perfumed fruit ripe gold apple a little lemon oil at play and a salty pop. Delicous long fine, supple. Excellent texture, line and length, impressive élévage and that all important mid-palate weight. Complexed by the long slow ferment and time on lees. Great drinking.
$68
$65ea in any 3+
$62ea in any 6+
Showing exactly how important vine age is! Shroomy wet wool funk reminiscent of old school. I think it's a character from low pH high acid whites with a good reduction. Build in depth and length Mid-Palate weight beyond the standard Chablis. Saline. Much more complete wine. Better even flow and drive coming through. The delightful lacing of maple syrup, from a clever élévage adds to the mid-palate weight. A little baking spice and crème pat. A note on the 2021's: The 2021 Laffay's are a bl
$70
$67ea in any 3+
$64ea in any 6+

Domaine Roland Lavantureux Chablis 2020

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

“All the domaine’s wines are vinified parcel by parcel – this comes from a single parcel in Lignorelles but a big parcel of 5ha and it’s the biggest cuvée of the domaine. Here starting to see a proportion of older barrels for elevage. A similar roundness and sweet invitation to drink. Mouth- filling, silky – here is a super wine for drinking today! The finish is pure and full of energy – again with lovely citrus-skin complexity. That’s really excellent.” Bill Nanson
$71
$68ea in any 3+
$65ea in any 6+