A lovely wine to drink now and over the next four to six years at least. (96+) WINE COMPANION

I can’t imagine a wine that I would more like to drink. This wine is pure, liquid gorgeousness. (96) CAMPBELL MATTINSON

Watch out, Côte d'Or! The Australians are coming. JANCIS ROBINSON

Salo Chardonnay is a side project of noted winemakers Steve Flamsteed and Dave Mackintosh. It’s been going for 17 years, with most of the wines produced from the Full Moon Vineyard at Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra Valley. I’m not sure where this 2025 release was grown but it’s the same elite quality. “Side project” sounds both cool and dismissive; this is not a wine to be dismissed. CAMPBELL MATTINSON

FIVE STARS - Business partners Steve Flamsteed and Dave Mackintosh say that Salo means dirty and a little uncouth, which with the Australian sense of humour, can be used as a term of endearment. They wish to keep their wines a little dirty by using hands-off, minimal winemaking except for a few strange techniques to make more gritty, textured wines. Quantities are unfortunately minuscule. JAMES HALLIDAY

Dave Mackintosh:
Such a thoughtful, intelligent winemaker, and totally without the affectations of many of the more progressive set in Australian wine. MIKE BENNIE,  The Wine Front
His wines are gorgeous. Soulful, vivid, speaking clearly of the land from which they spring. The entire range is cracking… DAVE BROOKS

Steve Flamsteed:
Flamsteed’s touch is seen in an impressive tally of outstanding quality wines. He has oscillated from household names to cult wines, plus one vermouth. Boundless energy, an eye for detail and winemaking nous are inherent….
It’s a public outing of a modest, intelligent, quiet revolutionary who has captured our hearts and minds with his exceptional winemaking, but who is also the embodiment of the ultimate wine all-rounder. We’re lucky to have him and his wines. MIKE BENNIE, Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year


One fine miserable winter's day in Melbourne, we tasted a lot of outstanding wine. There were wines from Mount Etna, Sauternes and some French wine called Lafite Rothschild. Among the thorns were the spectrum of Victorian chardonnay roses. I’ve said it over and over, buying Australian chardonnay is the best financial decision you can make. The absolute highlight of the day – the wonderful Salo chardonnay! 

Salo needs no introduction to most of you; the wine has fans here, there and everywhere. Talented winemakers (Steve Flamsteed and Dave Mackintosh) teaming up, working off a great site in Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra. A collaboration that’s been going for 17 years - quite the “side project”, as Campbell Mattinson quotes: “Side project sounds both cool and dismissive; this is not a wine to be dismissed.”

No need to beat around the bush here, the reviews speak for themselves. If you like locally made, high-quality, straight-up delicious chardonnay, you need to buy this by the bucket load. This is high value, high reward and highly likely to be in my fridge this weekend; I recommend it’s in yours too.

To order, follow the links below.

Cheers
Kayleen

PRODUCTS IN THIS OFFER

  1. Salo Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2025
    Salo Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2025

    From the Full Moon vineyard in Gladysdale, which, sadly (and in a sign of the times), has been pulled out by the owner. Salo has another vineyard lined up for '26. In the meantime, this is an excellent way to go out. Brightly coloured with aromas of nectarine kernel, citrus peel, flint and light marine scents. There's a gentle creaminess on the well-weighted palate that finishes chalky, tensile and long. A lovely wine to drink now and over the next four to six years at least. (96+) PHILIP RICH, wine companion

    I fell for this wine from the first sip. It's so right that I'm almost lost for words, or for the appropriate ones. It's mellifluous, first and foremost, in the most beautiful of ways. It tastes of white peach, cream, preserved lemons, honeysuckle and lactose, though everything comes at you as one harmonious stream. I will no doubt rate wines higher, but I can't imagine a wine that I would more like to drink. This wine is pure, liquid gorgeousness. (96) CAMPBELL MATTINSON

    Special Price $56.00 Regular Price $63.00 As low as $51.00