Chardonnay is a wine that Mornington does exceedingly well, the cooling maritime breezes of Port Philip Bay encourage vines to yield fruit with complex, crisp and intense varietal flavours. Lindsay McCall is gifted at constructing the most auspicious efforts across a range of styles. Estate Chardonnay is vinified entirely from fruit grown to a half hectare of the choicest plantings grown to three estate managed vineyards at Red Hill. An effusive Mornington wine with a presence of savouryness and layers of fruit, to accompany richly cooked shellfish or escalope of veal.

$4199each $503DOZEN EACH DOZEN Paringa Estate wines regularly enjoy an unmatched level of success in as many trade shows and national competitions as they are entered, the only limitation being a relatively small size of production. Chardonnay is had picked off a single block of vines on the north side of Callanans Road Vineyard at Red Hill South. Whole bunches are passed through an air bag press to obtain the highest quality free run juices. Parcels are barrel fermented in a high proportion of new Vosges and Allier French oak barriques. Paringa spends almost a year maturing on sedimentery yeasts, whilst being treated to a course of monthly lees battonage for complexity and palate richness.

Medium yellow green in colour. Savoury bouquet of grilled nuts, lemon and mineral. The palate displays citrus and stonefruit, nectarine and peach, along with the creamy nutty characteristics introduced by barrel fermentation. The mouthfeel is long and rich, finishing with subtle malolactic caramel/ butterscotch flavours and good natural acidity.

An accord of choice Chardonnay harvests from four estate managed vineyards within the Red Hill subregion of Mornington. Paringa has renewed its focus on Peninsula grown fruit and have earmarked an inventory of fruit from the finest sites. Delightfully fruit driven after a brisk vinification and timely bottling, its ripe stonefruit and mandarin nose is beautiful almond milk flavours and nutty barrel ferment characters. Fine, elegant and intense, all the hallmarks of Paringa Estate.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN The early success at Paringa Estate wines is a testimony to founder Lindsay McCall's passion and intuitive feel. Lindsay managed the ten acre vineyard and made wine, while maintaining a full time teaching job. The inaugural vintage was a mere three tonnes of fruit, it involved a very steep learning curve. Chardonnay is sourced from Paringa Estate paladin vineyards, including the Thacore property on Callanans Road and the Sea Vista site at Paringa Road. The winemaking process is almost identical to that of the Paringa flagships. Whole bunches are pressed to seasoned French oak barrels and treated to a partial wild yeast vinification on gross solids, followed by nine months maturation.

Medium to full yellow green. Bouquet is fruit driven with citrus and stonefruit characteristics, nectarine and peach in particular. The palate has similar tropical and stonefruit flavours combined with subtle nutty barrel ferment characters and good acidity. This is a lovely fresh wine that will provide excellent current drinking whilst continuing to develop.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The mineral rich hills of Beechworth are Shangri-la for the realization of big boned Chardonnay wines in the like of Chablis. The mere 1.2 hectares of Piano Piano's vineyard make for an excruciatingly low yielding site, quality of fruit however is exceptional, the vinification is decidedly Burgundian. New oak ferments and vineyard yeasts are essential to the raison d'être of Sophie's Block, a mouthfilling Beechworth style to match west coast langoustine or suckling pork, caramelled goose liver or delicately seared abalone.

$4399each $527DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chardonnay is hand picked over the passage of two weekends to create a wine of complexity and depth, the first harvest adds grapefruit and tight mineral structure, the riper second pick contributes intensity and palate weight. Grapes are all sorted, destemmed and gently pressed. Fruit is treated to a wild, indigenous vinifiction over the course of a fortnight, through the action of ambient vineyard yeasts in a high proportion of the finest new French oak hogsheads and barriques. Ten months maturation and an occasional lees stirring battonage, achieves a powerful, multi dimensional wine of structure, complexity and amazing length.

Bright straw yellow hues. Attractive nose of dried herb, cashews and citrus bouquets, minerality and finely integrated oak. The palate is lively and complex, grapefruits and peach, nectarine flavours are supported by a seamless length of maple, tangelo and delicious caramel oak, resolving on a lasting finish of compote fruit and briny savouryness.

Port Phillip Estate builds on the superb cool ripening conditions of Mornington to craft beautifully flavoured Burgundian styles of wine. The viticultural program of Port Phillip at Red Hill on the Mornington peninsula produces low yields of high quality Chardonnay, which best display the flavour intensity of such an exceptional site. An exquisitely balanced and structured cool climate Chardonnay, with creamy grapefruit characters up front and supple oak very much in the background.

$3499each $419DOZEN EACH DOZEN Port Phillip pursue a philosophy of reverence, respecting the land and preserving purity of fruit. Parcels of Chardonnay are hand picked after reaching optimum ripeness, off vines aged an average of twenty years, trellised to vertical shoot positioning. Fruit is whole bunch pressed directly to a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques, where it is treated to a natural vinification without the addition of any yeasts. Once fermentations have ceased, the parcels are sulphured to prevent malolactic, retaining all the freshness of natural acidity. This intense Chardonnay wine is matured one year on sedimentery yeast lees, for finer, more elegant structure and texture.

Bright light lemon hue. A delicate nose of grapefruit pith, green apple and lime leaf, hazelnuts and cream. The palate is mineral and dry, linear and pure, with savoury acid crunch defining the varietal character, excellent intensity and length, with an underlying hint of savouriness. Grapefruit and lime fruits persist, a subtle ginger spiciness leads to a focused, chalky saline finish.

Portsea Estate have been eminent Mornington pastoralists for generations, it was not until the turn of the 21st century that the decision was made to turn their fertile, mineral rich soils over to viticulture. Fruit for Back Beach is sourced from a single estate vineyard at Red Hill and treated to an old world style of vinification, followed by a course of maturation in fine French oak. Lifted, zesty, citrus aromas are enhanced by the subtle barrel influences, the piquant luxury of grapefruits and nettle are supported by a finely textured palate of exquisite balance.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The windsept climes around Portsea Estate are heaven sent for the production of stately Chardonnay, defined by their elegant structure and juicy, maritime minerality. The terroirs here are made so highly auspicious by a sub strata of extensive limestone deposits, overlaid by a legacy of free draining, calcareous humus soils. Delicate stone fruit aromatics and citrus spice, made savoury by slate mineral richness and a term of toasty French oak, Portsea's refreshing acidity carries the fruit with finesse, Mornington Chardonnay of wonderful length and fine silky textures.

$4499each $539DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Preece can be proud of a history spanning several decades and representing many of Victoria's most memorable vintage releases. The salubrious fruit growing terroirs of Goullburn are an idyll for the noble Chardonnay grape. Old and new world vinification techniques serve to place the quality of fruit right upfront, as framed by a judicious use of oak and supported by luxurious lees complexity. A generous Chardonnay wine delivering a punch of nectarine, rockmelon and vanilla flavours, offering good structure and lovely creamy textures.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN Grapes are sourced from the estate vineyard at Mitchelton and neighboring sites in Goulburn Valley, choice parcels which can enhance the wine's lovely backbone of full, rich stonefruit flavours. Further complemented by the tangy citrus notes and refreshing natural acidity of choice parcels grown to good vineyards around Nagambie Lakes. Gentle handling of fruit during crushing and and the press are essential to minimize phenolics, cool fermentations are emplyed to retain freshness and vitality. Components are matured several months on sedimentary yeast lees in a selection of seasoned and new French oak barriques to infuse the wine with complexity and build structure.

Pale straw hue. Fresh mango and melon nose over hints of nougat and delicately spiced oak. Lush palate full of peach and melon flavours, underscored by a refreshing citrus acidity and balanced oak. A refined finish on a length of juicy fruit characters and restrained oak. Match with crispy skin roast chicken and kipflers in herb jus.

Robert and Mem Kirby planted the first Yabby Lake Vineyard at Red Hill in 1992, following up with extended plantings on the Moorooduc sub region in 1998. Red Claw is the embodiement of collaboration between some of Australia's best winemakers and viticulturalists. The most splendid harvests of Mornington Chardonnay are given a no expenses spared course of French oak ferments and lees battonage, for a rich, textural style which articulates Mornington and proffer a touch of La Bourgogne.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN A juggernaut of activity has seen the Yabby Lake vineyards establish a position amongst Victoria's finest. The creation of Red Claw, in reference to freshwater yabbies, has been inspired by the estate's enthusiasm to produce quality wines which are accessible and truly expressive of Mornington Peninsula. Fruit is hand harvested, gently whole bunch pressed in small batches and completely barrel fermented, whilst being treated to a course of lees stirring in a combination of new and seasoned French 500 litres oak puncheons. Aged on yeast lees for several months before assembling into a wine that's bright and fresh, with loads of class, a cultured yet affable Chardonnay that you can take anywhere. Alcohol 12.5%

Bright intense pale straw color with green tinges. Lifted aromas of clean citrus notes, stonefruit and a hint of spicy French oak. The palate leads off with beautifully textured and rounded fruit intertwined with the natural acidity that runs through the mouth binding the wine and leading into a lovely long complex finish.

Harvests of Chardonnay grown to the undulating aspects of Mornington, elevated cooler knolls and warmer northerly sites, are greatly influenced by the invigorating maritime climes of Port Phillip Bay. Red Hill Estate construct a brisk and refreshing style of sub-regional Chardonnay, assembling several clones, selected off vineyards at Red Hill and Main Ridge, Tuerong and Merricks North. An elegantly integrated expression of Mornington Chardonnay to enjoy alongside your favourite faire.

$1799each $215DOZEN EACH DOZEN A collation of harvests from across the peninsula combine to produce an exemplary Mornington Chardonnay of balance and finesse. Fruit is harvested and individual parcels may be destemmed or pressed as whole bunches into fermenters. Juices are cold settled and racked, vinification is initiated by pure strains of yeast. The ferments are transferred to a combination of new and seasoned French oak barriques for completion, without any malolactic treatments, to retain bright natural acidity. Components are matured on settled lees, with a little gentle stirring over the course of several months, enhancing fruit flavours while adding an extra level of complexity and body, texture and length to the finished wine.

Brilliant green straw hue. A delicate perfume lift, showing lemon, pineapple and grapefruit with a touch of brioche. A persistent fine palate with a concentration of citrus and pineapple, creamy textures and integrated nutty oak, the fruit continues to emerge as the wine comes into balance. Enjoy as accompaniement to cuisine or serve as aperitif, but don't disguise Red Hill's delicate nose by over chilling.

Long Paddock is named for the early Australian drovers, inflicted with cruel and regular droughts, they faced a long march with their stumbling, starving stock to roam the bush roads and tracks in the desperate hope of finding food and water. Redbank source harvests of Chardonnay from the finest Victorian vineyards, sites which are ideally slow ripening, characterised by cool climes and rich fertile soils. High country Chardonnay at its finest, a match to prawns in creamy grumbo accompanied by your favourite style of rice.

$1599each $191DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chardonnay is sourced from good growers who are fastidious about their canopy management, a practice that's necessary to produce high quality harvests from the rich and fertile volcanic soils. Moderate crop levels encourage grapes to ripen early and evenly, retaining fresh natural acidity. Harvested early in the vintage, grapes are gently handled and treated to a long, cool vinification for retention of flavour and to keep phenolics at bay, the majority in fermenters without any malolactic. Some components are filled to oak for a course of ferments in seasoned French barriques.

Pale straw with bright green hues. Fresh aromas of lemon and lime zest, ripe peach notes are overlaid by nougat and spice. The palate is generously layered with flavours of green tropical fruits and lime curd, creamily textured with just a hint of French oak, balanced by a refreshing citrus acidity at the finish.

Established to deep red basalt soils by family Shelmerdine in 1985, Lusatia Park at Woori Yallock in the upper reaches of Yarra Valley, is a very demanding site. Vines are all closely planted and require a lot of work but the quality of harvest is spectacular, consistently yielding vintages of urbane, mineral infused Chardonnay. Fruit is all hand picked and whole bunch pressed, treated to full malolactic and battonage. Its voluble palate of oatmeal, almonds and brioche, is tightly structured, taintless and refined, defined by its crystal elegance and briny, lingering finish.

$3999each $479DOZEN EACH DOZEN