Champagne, Yarra Valley, chard...
Yarra valley
Part of the Port Philip zone which surrounds Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is located an hour outside Melbourne and is one of the most important fine wine growing regions in Australia. The Yarra Valley’s viticultural history extends back to 1838 when the Ryrie Brothers planted the first vineyards at what is now Yering Station, with the first vintage produced in 1845 by the legendary James Dardel. In 1863 Hubert de Castella established St Huberts Vineyards and Guillaume de Pury established Yeringberg, bringing the total area under vine to 430 acres. This trend continued with the establishment of Yeringa with David Mitchell planting vineyards at Stringybark Creek increasing the area under vine to 1000 acres. This period of growth was followed by a series of poor vintages and tough economic conditions which saw vineyard production completely cease by 1937.
The Yarra Valley’s modern renaissance began when Reg Egan planted Wantirna Estate in 1963 and was followed in the late 1960s and early 1970s by Mount Mary, Yeringberg, Yarra Yering, St Huberts, Seville Estate, Yarra Burn, Chateaux Yeringa (now de Bortoli) and others, From the this period through to the late 1990’s investment and expansion continued, with the majority of wineries small, quality conscious, boutique producers of top quality wine which fetched appropriate prices. The latter period of the 1990’s saw large scale corporate investment, with Moet & Chandon establishing Domaine Chandon alongside acquisitions by Mildara Blass, McWilliams, Hardys and others.
The Yarra Valley is a diverse and cool climate region with a lower average growing temperature than both Bordeaux and Burgundy, the principle white variety is Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, while the red varieties that the region is renowned for are Cabernet Sauvignon (with associated Bordeaux varieties of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) which helped put the Yarra Valley on the map followed by Pinot Noir which arrived en masse in the 1980s and followed more recently by Shiraz (which is sometimes blended with Viognier). Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also cultivated as sparkling base. Interestingly, vineyards planted in the cool, upper Yarra Valley for the production of sparkling wine are now being used for table wines. Whether it’s global warming or just that recent vintages have been warmer, there is little doubt that the Upper Yarra including places such as Hoddles Creek and other sub-districts such as Woori Yallock have really come into their own over the last 5-10 years.
Chardonnay styles vary across winemakers and site, with a distinctive aromatic profile of melon and fig in warmer sites and white peach and grapefruit from cooler vineyards. Both styles are characterised by good acidity. Outstanding producers include Oakridge, Toolangi, Coldstream Hills, de Bortoli, Giant Steps, Mac Forbes and Hoddles Creek. The Yarra Valley is one of the first Australian regions to establish Pinot Noir of high regard, with notes of plum, cherry and strawberry and a characteristic underlying sappy acidity and fine soft tannins. Outstanding producers include de Bortoli, Coldstream Hills, Giant Steps and Mount Mary and Wedgetail. Yarra Valley Cabernet is almost always blended with traditional Bordeaux varieties and is characterised as a medium bodied wine, elegant, with notes of cassis, hay, tobacco leaf, fine silky tannins and remarkable longevity. Outstanding producers include Mount Mary, Yarra Yarra, Yeringberg, Wantirna Estate. Shiraz is less prevalent in the Yarra Valley and highly dependent on vineyard location favouring warmer growing conditions. Increasingly producers are following the Northern Rhone Cote Rotie blend by adding small quantities of Viognier for added colour and aromatic lift. Classic Yarra Valley Shiraz is almost always of a cool climate style with notes of pepper, black cherry and spice with fine silky tannins. Outstanding producers include Yering Station, de Bortoli, Jamsheed, Yarra Yarra and recently Serrat.
Sources:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, (ed) Jancis Robinson
James Hallidays Wine Atlas of Australian, James Halliday
Champagne
The chalky soils of Champagne combined with its frigid growing environment create wines that are electric and salivating. But it’s the creation of bubbles that makes these wines stand out.
The bubbles are formed during a secondary fermentation in bottle, known as Méthode Traditionelle. The longer they age, the more nougat and brioche flavours develop and the finer the bead (bubble) becomes.
In terms of who invented Champagne, the English make a strong case as they worked out the formula for purposely making the fizz happen and their stronger coal-fired glass bottles - resulting from the Industrial Revolution - could hold the pressure. Whereas the French were still bottling in wood-fired glass which wasn’t strong enough and they hadn’t cracked the technique of creating bubbles on purpose.
Grapes
White: Chardonnay
Red: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Styles
Nowhere in the world can emulate the fineness and electric detail of these wines. Non-vintage Champagnes should be enjoyed earlier in their lives, while vintage wines have more structure and can age beautifully. House styles differ too. Blanc des Blancs (100% Chardonnay) offer a more elegant and fragile expression while Blanc des Noirs (100% Pinot and or Meunier) are darker fruited with more obvious structure and power.
Favourite Producers
Pierre Peters, Louis Roederer, Vilmart, Andre Clouet, Taittinger, Larmandier, Egly-Ouriet, Jacques Selosse
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Yering Station Chardonnay 2023 375mlBarrel fermented and matured in puncheons (22% new). No mlf. Bright green gold. A touch richer and more complex than the very good Village Chardonnay. An attractive nose of stone fruits, orange blossoms and grilled nuts leads onto the palate, which has good depth and persistence. There's a little orange pith on the long, refreshing finish. (95) PHILIP RICH, Halliday Wine Companion2022chardonnayAustralia506$23.00 As low as $20.70 -
Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay 2024Juicy white fruit, grapefruit, aniseed, a little struck match, almond paste, cinnamon and clove spice. It’s packed with flavour, white nectarine and nutty spicy characters, a flinty grip to texture, quite some intensity and power here, and in some respects it seems more Beechworth than Yarra, or so I think. Pear and citrus, lime rind, with excellent length of flavour. It’s elemental as at now, and a little raw, though I reckon it will deliver with a couple of years in bottle. It’s a cracking release. (95) GARY WALSH2024chardonnayAustralia506Special Price $25.00 Regular Price $30.00 -
Handpicked Regional Selection Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023chardonnayAustralia506$25.00 As low as $22.50 -
Wickhams Road Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2024More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2024chardonnayAustralia506$30.00 As low as $27.00 -
TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022chardonnayAustralia506$34.00 As low as $30.60 -
De Bortoli PHI Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021From the Lusatia Park vineyard at Woori Yallock, purchased by De Bortoli family in 2016. Whole-bunch pressed, barrel fermented and matured for 9 months in both new and used French oak casks. Bright green gold. Restrained with good fruit purity. Yellow pear, white nectarines and a hint of jasmine, the palate is a happy mix of being both textured and refreshing. A very even wine that finished long with some green apple crunch. PHILIP RICH, wine companion2021chardonnayAustralia506$34.00 As low as $30.60 -
Pacha Mama Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023From a single vineyard in Gruyere. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented in 15% new puncheons. Callie Jemmeson has a good feel for making chardonnay, and it shows on the complex bouquet of white peach, lemon zest, grilled hazelnuts and a soupçon of sea spray. It's mouth-filling and balanced, finishing with a touch of grip on the nicely structured and long finale. 96 PHILIP RICH, wine companion2023chardonnayAustralia506$35.00 As low as $31.50 -
Oakridge Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023'If you ever want to pass some wine wisdom on to someone, just say these three words: Oakridge And Chardonnay. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front
Words to live by and the 2023 looks to be a tremendous follow up to the 2022. We are always shocked at how these wines overdeliver in every possible way, year in, year out.
2023chardonnayAustralia506$37.00 As low as $33.30 -
Yeringberg Babyberg Marsanne Roussanne 2023Our first Babyberg is a playful and modern take on a Marsanne Roussanne blend, with which
we have a long and proud history. The result is golden yellow/orange in colour with herbal, honeysuckle and orange blossom aromas. The lively, floral palate has a lovely apricot-laden, spicy, roasted nut richness balanced by distinct pithy, chewy phenolics that are reminiscent of fine black tea. SANDRA DE PURY
Golden colour. Honey nut cornflakes, mint, apricot, nashi pear, a bag of white mushrooms. It’s a rich and juicy wine, but also quite nutty and savoury, all the peanuts and smoked ham, quince, quite waxy, but also has this woody grainy grip to it, though I quite like the texture here, and it finishes saline and unami with solid length, and something of an orange and Islay whisky character in the mix. GARY WALSH, the wine front2023chardonnayAustralia506$40.00 As low as $36.00 -
Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2024An even split of upper and lower Yarra fruit; both estate grown and from growers. Less mlf than last year. Smells fleshy with aromas of stone fruits, together with a little pink grapefruit and light citrus notes. It's both approachable and gentle, even as a young wine, but the balance for drinking now or cellaring in the short to medium term is absolutely spot on. (95) PHILIP RICH2024chardonnayAustralia506$43.00 As low as $38.70 -
Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023An even split of upper and lower Yarra fruit. Whole-bunch pressed and wild fermented in 15% new French puncheons. Around 25% mlf. A very bright green gold. Attractive scents of ripe white pears and nectarines, lemon curd and just the right amount of flint. Packs a punch on the saline, gently textured, gently chewy palate. Great stuff and the perfect entrée to the year's superb lineup of single-vineyard chardonnays. (95) PHILIP RICH, wine companion
Honeycrisp apple skin, lemon zest and green plum. Winter melon and starfruit. Plumes of talc powder, pomice and honeysuckle. Plenty of white delicate florals and a blush of nectarine. Intoxicating acidity and a kefir creaminess on the finish. A spray of saline and oak appears in its round shapes rather than toasty notes. Alive with energy and creeping unsuspecting power. Drinking well now and will cellar 3-5 years, a great wine for the bite of calamari or richness of abalone. (95) SHANTEH WALE, wine pilot
2023chardonnayAustralia506$48.00 As low as $43.20 -
Riorret Lusatia Park Vineyard Chardonnay 2017Lusatia Park is in the Upper Yarra, and the cooler climate - coupled with the modest alcohol - led to the decision to take the wine through mlf. It certainly hasn't stripped the elegance or fresh, juicy/limey acidity of this lovely chardonnay. The Yarra Valley length of flavour is on full display, oak (obviously) simply a means to an end. JAMES HALLIDAY, winecompanion.com
2017chardonnayAustralia506$49.00 As low as $33.00 -
Salo Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023From the Full Moon Vineyard in Gladysdale. Wild ferment and 100% mlf. There's only one wine from winemakers and friends Steve Flamsteed and Dave Mackintosh, and it's always a good 'un. A bright green gold. There's aromas of ripe stone fruits together with some savoury and complex briny notes. On the palate, this has lots of flavour and punch, finishing long with a refreshing touch of grip. Delicious now and over the next 4–6 years. (95) PHILIP RICH, Halliday Wine Companion
One forgets the longevity of something that seems to have great energy behind it, but this is the eleventh year that Salo has worked with this fruit from the Full Moon Vineyard of the Southern Hills of the Yarra. Wild ferment, old oak, unfined, unfiltered, minimal sulphur. A cool and wet start to the season, low and slow growing reflected in the wine somewhat.A quiet and gentle chardonnay of suppleness, creamy flow, soft citrus fruit characters, red apple sweet-sourness and a lick of almond, nougat and vanilla in the mix. An undertow of barely there but refreshing saline acidity does a nice trick too. This feels very even, subtle in its general sense and yet persists beautifully and with freshness with each sip. Classy, understated and delicious. MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Fron
2023chardonnayAustralia506$58.00 As low as $52.20 -
Handpicked Collection Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2022A broad, rather fleshy chardonnay from a vintage of meager yields and considerable concentration. To its credit, despite the waxy spread of lanolin, hazelnut and orchard fruits, the acidity is soft, juicy and palpably natural. This makes for a poised, highly enjoyable chardonnay that is ready to go. Drink now. Screw cap. NED GOODWIN MW, jamessuckling.com2022chardonnayAustralia506$59.00 As low as $53.10
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Handpicked Collection Mornington Penninsula Chardonnay 2022
Light straw-yellow; reserved aromas of straw/hay and tealeaf, nougat later, and pleasant more fruit-driven flavour, attractive, tight and refreshingly dry. Slightly biscuity oak. Reserved, possibly still a bit in its shell and needing more time, but has the makings of a very smart chardonnay. HUON HOOKE, therealreview.com
Yields were way down in '22; thankfully, the wines are generally very good to excellent, this in the latter camp. Pristine flavours comprising white peach and lemon, lightly spiced and offset by fluffy, creamy lees. The palate is superfine, the oak superbly integrated and the finish absurdly long and fabulous. JANE FAULKNER, winecompanion.com
2022chardonnayAustralia506$59.00 As low as $53.10 -
Kenzie Waiohinganga Chardonnay 2022Grown on deep alluvial river sands and stone left behind by the Esk River, vines experience a maritime influence where warm, dry days are followed by a cool sea breeze.
Handpicked fruit was wholebunch pressed direct to 500L puncheons with full solids. 10% of which was new French oak. After a few days, wild fermentation spontaneously started and progressed for 20 days with a maximum temperature of 24 deg C.
Post fermentation the wine was stirred a few times and left to mature at cool and allowed to go through full Malolactic Fermentation. Stirring every 3- 4 weeks. Minimal sulphur was added after 5 months. After a total of 9 months of barrel maturation the wine was racked to tank for bottling. No fining or filtration.
2022chardonnayAustralia506$60.00 As low as $54.00 -
Stonier Gainsborough Park Chardonnay 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019chardonnayAustralia506$64.00 As low as $57.60 -
Applecross Chardonnay 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022chardonnayAustralia506$67.00 As low as $60.30 -
Yeringberg Chardonnay 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022chardonnayAustralia506$81.00 As low as $72.90 -
Giant Steps Wombat Creek Chardonnay 2022From the marginal Wombat Creek vineyard planted at around 400m elevation in the early 1980s. Whole-bunch pressed to French puncheons (25% new), one-third mlf. Aromas of yellow grapefruit, gently poached apples, white peach and a little yuzu. With its mouth-watering acidity, this the most tightly wound of the four Giant Steps chardonnays in 2022. Finishes chalky and long, but it needs another six to 12 months to fill out a little. (94) PHILIP RICH, Wine Companion2022chardonnayAustralia506$82.00 As low as $73.80 -
Giant Steps Tarraford Chardonnay 2022The warmest site among Giant Steps' four single-vineyard chardonnays, though planted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented in French puncheons (25% new) with 10% mlf. An engaging and lovely wine. Opens with subtle scents of pink grapefruit, orange blossom and coriander seeds. Builds nicely on the gently textured, saline and structured palate before finishing zesty and long. The sort of wine that begs you to take another sip. (97) PHILIP RICH, Wine Companion2022chardonnayAustralia506$82.00 As low as $73.80 -
De Bortoli Lusatia Chardonnay 2019From the Lusatia A Block, Woori Yallock, Yarra Valley. Whole bunched pressed, racked to older French oak casks, natural fermentation. Lees are stirred toward the end of fermentation and then left to rest until late November. The wine was gravity racked to vat for a further 6 months on fine lees before bottling.2018chardonnayAustralia506$82.00 As low as $73.80 -
De Bortoli Lusatia Chardonnay 2017More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2017chardonnayAustralia506$84.00 As low as $75.60 -
Vilmart Ratafia de Champagne 500mlSTAFF PICKS 2024 - KAYLEEN REYNOLDS
Easily the best Ratafia I have ever tasted. Yes, the sample size is not large but it comes as no surprise knowing Vilmart's track record of making fine wines. Ratafia de Champenois AKA Champagne's vin de liqueur.
100% chardonnay from premier cru sites in village Rilly-la-Montagne of Montagne de Reims. Fermentation is stopped before completion by adding young grape spirit resulting in a sweet, full-flavoured wine that is delicate and oh so elegant. A must have for the festive season alongside Nan's pavlova or a stinky wash rind cheese. (serve chilled)
Candied apricots, lemon curd and cashew nut, instantly we know we are onto a great thing here! On tasting, we see wild honey on buttered toast with orange peel and white nectarine, all laced around stoney minerality. The impeccable balance of flavour intensity, residual sugar and grape spirit is remarkable. Persistent length is matched with refreshment. Finesse through and through. KAYLEEN REYNOLDS, pws
The 2013 Ratafia (Chardonnay) is laced with hints of dried fruit, almond, dried flowers and chamomile. It offers gorgeous complexity, along with notable energy and freshness. It is a very fine, elegant Ratafia. ANTONIO GALLONI
NVchardonnayFrance376$90.00 As low as $81.00 -
Giant Steps Sexton Chardonnay 2023Right now, this is the most salivating and seductive of Giant Step's superb array of single-vineyard chardonnays from '23. Perfectly ripened white peach, pear and some marine scents lead onto the palate, which is gently textured, saline and structured. The finish is energetic, nutty and long. (97) PHILIP RICH, Wine Companion2023chardonnayAustralia506$91.00 As low as $81.90 -
Hoddles Creek Road Block Chardonnay 2021
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021chardonnayAustralia506$93.00 As low as $83.70 -
Hoddles Creek Estate Syberia Chardonnay 2018More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2018chardonnayAustralia506$93.00 As low as $83.70 -
Oakridge 864 Aqueduct Block Henk Vineyard Chardonnay 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022chardonnayAustralia506$97.00 As low as $87.30 -
Mac Forbes Little Yarra 'Gladysdale' Chardonnay 2021From a vineyard planted in Gladysdale in '09. Matured in seasoned barriques. My pick of the '21 single-vineyard chardonnays, this has a complex bouquet of just-picked nectarines, white flowers and oyster shells. The palate is nicely balanced, with good weight and concentration. It's also chalky textured, saline and long. And, like Mac Forbes' single-vineyard wines, in particular, it's been built to last. (96) PHILIP RICH, Halliday Wine Companion
Petite Yarra. AOC? Clay with mudstone and dry-farmed vines.It glides. With a silky texture, lightly yoghurty core and a chalky, citrusy finish. Quite light on its feet with blanched almonds, crisp green apple, just a hint of crunchy white nectarine as it’s mostly citrus driven. All fresh, smooth and minerally. She’s pretty. KASIA SOBIESIAK, The Wine Front
2021chardonnayAustralia506$105.00 As low as $94.50 -
De Bortoli Lusatia Chardonnay 2018A bit like a Ferrari 812 Superfast that can go from zero to 100 in 2.9 seconds, this chardonnay seems to race across the palate, leaving a trail of flavour in its wake. It's pure acidity driving this. Of course there's more in the midst: the citrus, the flint and the smidge of nougatine. A complex, fantastic wine. JANE FAULKNER, winecompanion.com2018chardonnayAustralia506$112.00 As low as $100.80 -
Andre Jacquart Vertus Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs NVA sleek Champagne, with flavors of white cherry and blood orange that are ripe and expressive, accented by honeysuckle, minerally chalk and sliced almond notes. Well-knit and fine in texture. Mouthwatering finish. Alison Napjus, Wine SpectatorNVChampagne, chardonnayFrance376$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Lilbert Fils Extra BrutSTAFF PICKS 2024 - ALEX WILCOX
The Prince Wine Store team uncovered the Lilbert on a recent trip to France and we were very lucky to be given a small allocation for Australia. This tiny producer (3.5 hectare) is a great addition to our Champagne portfolio. For me this is what champagne is all about - pure fine and elegant with an underlying power - this is truly an anywhere, anytime great bottle of Champagne. If you haven't tried it, you really should.
Bertrand Lilbert's crafts his wines from 100% Chardonnay grown in the Northern part of the Cote du Blanc, the NV is a blend of 50% reserve wine and 50% from 2016 for this most recent bottling. As small grower Champagne prices continue to skyrocket this cuvee is great value for money and will stand up against many bigger name Blanc du Blanc. Elsewhere, these wines have a cult like following, something we hope to help build here. This will be a feature of my Christmas Day in Tamworth. ALEX WILCOX
Lilbert-Fils is a small, slightly under-the-radar grower in Cramant with a loyal following, and it's easy to see why. With 50% of the blend for the first wine of the house coming from a perpetual reserve of Cramant Chardonnay started in the 1990s by Bertrand Lilbert's father, this is an entry level that is anything but simple and youthful. The style is rather floral, with apricot and jasmine notes floating over a real hit of savour from the reserve and a bone dry, mineral presence. It's singular, yet harmonious; a blanc de blancs that takes care of the simple pleasures, yet hides rather a lot under the bonnet. TOM HEWSON, decanter.comNote on previous release:
As is consistently the case with this wine, the nose is airy and almost delicate with its softly yeasty aromas of Granny Smith apples, lemon-lime and a floral top note. The ultra-fine if firm mousse contributes to the impression of refinement on the equally pure middle weight flavors that terminate in a clean, dry and delicious but not really austere finale…BURGHOUNDNVchardonnayFrance376$125.00 As low as $112.50 -
Bruno Paillard Brut Premiere Cuvee NVPinot noir leads this accurate, well-crafted aperitif style of elegant finesse and persistence. A primary red cherry, wild strawberry and lemon fruit focus is underlined by taut acidity and expressive chalk mineral depth. Nuances of honey, anise and ginger are building as it gains maturity. It's clean and taut, a low dosage keeping the finish fresh and lively. TYSON STELZERNVchardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot noirFrance376$140.00 As low as $126.00 -
Andre Jacquart Mesnil Experience Blanc de Blancs NVMouthwatering acidity focuses this racy blanc de blancs, with flavors of lemon parfait, baked quince and pickled ginger, while a hint of salted almond lingers on the refined finish. Alison Napjus, Wine SpectatorNVChampagne, chardonnayFrance376$145.00 As low as $130.50 -
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Blanc NVOne of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine. JAMES BUTTON, DecanterNVchardonnayFrance376$145.00 As low as $130.50 -
Lilbert Fils Blanc de Blancs PerleThe NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Perle Grand Cru is fabulous. A Champagne of uncanny depth and intensity, the Perle is quite structured in this release. White pepper, flowers, crushed rock, mint and lemon peel abound. More than anything else, I am struck by the wines. ANTONIO GALLONI
A lower-pressure cuvée originally inspired by Mumm's erstwhile Crémant de Cramant, it offers up attractive aromas of yellow orchard fruit, sweet citrus, hazelnuts, buttery pastry and flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pillowy and charming palate that's suave and fleshy, concluding with a saline finish. WILLIAM KELLEY, wineadvocate.com
Bertrand Lilbert's wines have long been insider favourites, particularly the intensely characterful, clean-cut and aromatic Cramant Chardonnay, and the Perle - which follows a tradition in the village of reducing the pressure of the mousse by one third to give finer, creamier bubbles. This hits a sweet spot with its pear, apricot juice and citrus oil intensity, fragrant with jasmine-like florals and rounded out by a third of the blend coming from a perpetual reserve system… TOM HEWSON, decanter.com
NVchardonnayFrance376$160.00 As low as $144.00 -
Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay 2014More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2014chardonnayFrance376$160.00 As low as $144.00 -
Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay 2015The 2015 Extra-Brut Spécial Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay is a dense, powerful Champagne. I would give the 2015 another year or two in bottle, as the 2015 is painfully tight and unyielding. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, graphite, tangerine oil and chamomile open with time in the glass, but only reluctantly so. The 2015 remains painfully unyielding. Perhaps time will help, but I have my doubts given how expressive the other 2015s are here. The 2015 is a blend of mostly Cramant and Chouilly, both Grand Crus, with some Premier Cru sites as well. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2022. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com
2015chardonnayFrance376$170.00 As low as $153.00 -
Delamotte Blanc de Blanc 2018The 2018 Brut Blanc de Blancs is a blend of fruit from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry, six villages in the Côte des Blancs. Crushed rocks, mint, slate, lemon peel and green pear lend notable freshness. Like most wines in this vintage, the Blanc de Blancs is airy and medium-bodied in structure, but it shows lovely tension and fine balance. There's plenty of Delamotte class, in an understated style. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
The Delamotte 2018 Blanc de Blancs is showing well today, evoking a gourmand, complex bouquet of pastry, almonds, ripe orchard fruits, spices and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and chiseled, it’s enveloping and round with a fleshy core of fruit, though not as fleshy as the 2012, concluding with a tense and long finish. YOHAN CASTAING, The Wine Advocate2012Champagne, chardonnayFrance376 -
Pierre Peters L'Esprit Millesime 2019The L'Esprit de 2019 is one of the best versions of this wine I can remember tasting. Exuberant and racy, with tons of energy, the 2019 reflects the natural intensity of this great vintage while retaining the super-classic signatures of the Côtes des Blancs. This cuvée is a blend of fruit sourced from Grand Cru sites in Le Mesnil, Avize, Cramant and Oger. Readers who want to enjoy a top-flight Champagne without splurging will find so much to like here. Hints of tangerine peel, marzipan and dried flowers linger on the intensely saline finish. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 19, 2023. (95) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
The year’s heat has yielded concentration and fragrance rather than weight, with lemon oil and Mirabelle plum framed in a compact, driven, yet polished palate whose firm core of acid will unwind beautifully over the coming decade as the aromatics develop further. Between the excellence of Pierre Péters non-vintage and the renown of its top offerings, the vintage-level cuvée can sometimes be overlooked, but in 2019 – one of winemaker Rodolphe Péters’ favourite years – it’s an absolute star. (95) TOM HEWSON, Decanter2018chardonnayFrance376$195.00 As low as $175.50 -
Lilbert Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant 2017From two parcels of Chardonnay planted in 1936 in Cramant comes Bertrand Lilbert's small production of vintage blanc de blancs. Without the prominent effect of the perpetual reserve used in the non-vintage, the character of the year comes across strongly with a smoky, toasted brown bread and frangipane breadth quickly twisting into roasted lemon, fresh clementines and kiwi - it's juicy, joyous and punchy, needs some time to settle and smoothen out. Full of natural tension and verve, this is a blanc de blancs of considerable character in a year which occasionally excelled in the Côte des Blancs. TOM HEWSON, decanter.com2017chardonnayFrance376$200.00 As low as $180.00 -
Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Cramant Grand Cru 2015The 2015 Brut Spécial Club Oger Grand Cru is an attractive, powerful wine. Citrus peel, white flowers, chalk and the savory notes typical of so many 2015 are nicely laced together. I would give the 2015 a year or two in the cellar to come together, as it is a bit disjointed at present, but I would not wait too long, as flavors that are savory today may very well develop into more overpowering vegetal notes over time. The Oger is a blend taken from the Terres de Noël, Brulis, Champ Nérons and Fondy lieux-dits. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: October 14, 2019. Antonio Galloni, VINOUS
2015chardonnayFrance376$214.00 As low as $192.60 -
Delamotte Blanc de Blanc 2014The 2014 Blanc de Blancs is seriously impressive. Ample in feel, Delamotte is especially rich in 2014, and yet there is plenty of freshness to balance things out. This is an especially savory style for Delamotte, and one that works so well. Dried lemon peel, pastry, almond, dried herbs and chamomile open in a beautifully translucent Blanc des Blancs that marries power and finesse. I can’t wait to see how it ages. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous2012Champagne, chardonnayFrance376$235.00 As low as $211.50 -
Vouette et Sorbee Blanc dArgile Brut Nature R20It's a super mineral, nutty wine with crunchy stone fruits. There is lovely, pulpy fruit but also racy, crunchy acidity and terrific length with a twist of pleasant astringency. It takes you (the 60 miles) to grand cru Chablis and back again. ROB WALTERS, importer
Review on a previous release
Proving superior Blanc de Blancs is quite possible in the Aube's Pinot Noir paradise, this opens with lemon cream and persistent white chocolate and nougat through the palate. Details of white flowers, peach and almond. Very gourmand and complex, and quite a counterpoint to the more austere Chardonnay Champagnes from further north. 100% Chardonnay. Single parcel. Oak fermented. TIM HALL, decanter.com2020chardonnayFrance376$300.00 As low as $270.00 -
Vilmart Coeur de Cuvee 201580% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir from vines averaging 60 years old, the wine spends nearly 6 years on lees. Most importantly only the heart of the pressing is taken - 1400 litres instead of the usual 2100 litres, hence the name 'coeur de cuvee.'
The 2015 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is a pretty dense wine that belies its deceptively mid-weight structure. What surprises me most about the 2015 is how closed it is. In most years, especially warm years, Coeur de Cuvée is quite a bit more open and voluptuous, but the 2015 does not come across like that at all. Rather, it is super-classic in bearing, with tons of gravitas from the 60-year-old vines just waiting to emerge. There are none of the awkward herbal notes that penalize so many wines. Bright saline notes extend the finish effortlessly. The 2015 is a brilliant Coeur de Cuvée. ANTONIO GALLONI
2015chardonnay, Pinot noirFrance376$325.00 As low as $292.50 -
Vilmart Coeur de Cuvee 2016The 2016 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is an elegant, sensual Champagne. In other words, classic Vilmart. Crushed flowers, mint, chalk, slate, dried herbs and citrus peel are all beautifully delineated. Brisk acids wrap it all together in style. The 2016 needs a few years to be at its most expressive, as it is pretty reserved today. Even so, all the elements are impeccably put together. The barrels used here are one to three years old. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: September, 2022. (94+) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
Notes of honeysuckle and lime blossoms, blood orange peel, anise and cardamom are a fragrant overtone heralding this fresh Champagne, which shows good tension and drive. The refined, chalky mousse is lacy in texture, buoying finely meshed flavors of ripe apricot and quince paste, raw almond, vanilla wafer and candied ginger. Ends with a long, mouthwatering finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged September 2022. Drink now through 2036. (95) WINE SPECTATOR2016chardonnay, Pinot noirFrance376$340.00 As low as $306.00 -
Halliday's Top Aussie Chardonnay 6 Pack
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
$415.00 Regular Price $510.00 -
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 2007The 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires is the seventh opus of this vintage after the 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2004 and 2006 vintages. This 100% Chardonnay exhales aromas of candied lemon, lemon oil, spring flowers, ripe orchard fruits and hints of pastry. The palate is coated and fleshy, rich and dense, with racy acids and a chalky, penetrating finish. Hide bottles for seven to eight years. (95+) YOHAN CASTAING, The Wine Advocate
“The nose is very subtle, has glimpses of oyster shell and lemon. The palate is taut, bright, super-fresh, linear, lemony and just incredibly youthful. There is a vein on ripe, lemony freshness that pervades this wine, that sets the tone, that defines its character. This is intense, insistent, urgent, yet also gentle and smooth with very fine mousse. A wonderful and most compelling personality. Exquisite. The finish is a serene stretch of lemony, chalky, profound freshness. Drink now or keep. Will evolve. (98) ANNE KREBIEHL MW
100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Vertus. The new Blanc des Millénaires presents the very best of the 2007 vintage, one that shows an intense, bristling kind of energy for Chardonnay. A compressed, tight core of chalky, pure flavours – green plum, charred peel, white flowers – with a lick of sea salt. Tasted again in November 2022, this cuvée showed richer sourdough and butter profile, suggesting it is opening up fairly obligingly. Much more focus than the 2006, yet more attitude than the serenely attractive 2004. TOM HEWSON, TimAtkin.com
2007chardonnayFrance376$500.00 As low as $450.00