Clare Halloran, chief winemaker for TarraWarra makes no attempt to hide the fact that 2016 was warm in the Yarra, with earlier ripening fruit. No malolactic fermentation. Fermented and matured in 25% new French oak and older puncheons and barrels.

TarraWarra Estate, Reserve, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, 2016

A lemon/gold colour with an opulent but not corpulent nose: rich white peach stonefruit with a touch of ripe melon. Citrus runs to finger limes with grapefruit highlights. Toasty oak plays a small part with glazed brioche notes. The palate abounds with those crisp white stonefruit flavours while quality winemaking is evident with a strong line of acid retention to keep this tight and drive it home. Very good.

RRP: $50
Alc: 13%
Rating: 17.75/20

Wine sample courtesy of TarraWarra Estate