Matthew Atallah is one of the truly nice people in the wine industry. His family hail from Lebanon where they’ve been grapegrowers for hundreds of years. Matt’s parents set up award winning Hunter Valley winery Allandale in 1977 and so he was born to wine. After working around the globe, he settled in Orange, NSW working for one of the regions biggest wineries before leaving to create Atallah Wines with his family.

The 2019 is the current release, but Matt was kind enough to send through the back vintages of the 2018 and the 2017 as comparisons. If you ask nicely, he may be able to throw in one of these past releases.

Matthew Atallah Wines, Block a2, Chardonnay, Orange, 2019

The current release. Flinty and briny with nougat with nut cream, lemon granita, white stone fruit and dinner bread roll crust. A full, powerful, savoury expression, with hints of stone fruit and grapefruit, nutty/mealy mix and a base of café latté bitter/creaminess. Drawing tight to a fine, long finish.

RRP: $50
Alc: 13.2%
Rating: 94/100

Matthew Atallah Wines, Block a2, Chardonnay, Orange, 2018

Sense awakening gun flint, salted cracker biscuit, easy yellow melon fruit, some custard sulfides and citrus pith. Generous and creamy front to mid palate with good constriction and focus through the tail. Citrus cream, apple flesh and a dry, phenolic grip present a good balance. Plenty of personality.

RRP: $50 (this vintage selling fast)
Alc: 13.2%
Rating: 92/100

Matthew Atallah Wines, Block a2, Chardonnay, Orange, 2017

Restrained and almost austere nose compared to its younger siblings. Cashew nut and limey, grapefruit citrus interplay with toasty oak/dinner bread roll. Tight and almost linear. Plenty of regional acidity driving tension. Savoury texture without compromising the intensity and focus. 

RRP: $85 (as museum)
Alc: 12.8%
Rating: 93/100

Wine sample courtesy of Matthew Atallah Wines