Jacob Stein is behind his family’s Robert Stein label being one of the strengths of the Mudgee region, the former Young Winemaker of the Year has an adept skill at quality wine making.

Robert Stein Reserve Chardonnay, Mudgee 2014

Bight gold in colour. Natural ferment, partial malolactic ferment, 50 % New French oak. Soft wooly notes, roast nuts, preserved lemon, just ripe stone fruit/ un-popped pop corn kernel, sweet double cream complexity. The MLF rounds out what would be sharp crystalline acidity, oak is affirming and youthfully pleasant but not too dominant. Good quality fruit and well structured. Pleasant and enjoyable, and whilst there’s complexity due to all the components, it still straddles a safe line to ensure all the modern Oz chardonnay boxes are ticked. A more than safe bet, but I’d love to see a bit more “edge”

RRP: $40

Alc: 13%

Wine sample courtesy of Robert Stein and Define Wine