2022 Larry Cherubino Chardonnay, Margaret River

The fruit for this wine was sourced from both Karridale (in the south) and Wilyabrup (north of Margaret River town) and was handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in French oak (both new and seasoned) prior to six months' maturation. In the mouth, the 2022 Margaret River Chardonnay is laden with piercing acidic intensity (no doubt from the Karridale component), while the fruit that swarms around it is powerful, creamy and juicy. An opulent wine without overt profligacy, this is hitting a sweet spot of balance. This is a very impressive wine, gentle, in its way. It has notes of salted yellow peach, apple skins, dried curry leaves, coastal brine, crushed shells and preserved yuzu. There are notes of white flowers in abundance along with crushed nuts/almond meal/toasted pistachio. This is astoundingly good, but it will get better. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

To suggest that Larry Cherubino makes a prodigious amount of wine would be both correct and a gentle understatement. However, he and his winemaking team (not to be overlooked or underestimated) are responsible for a huge number of very high quality wines, as are evidenced in this report. The Chardonnays are routinely made in a full-bodied, plush style, which is created by winemaking rather than later picking dates. The wines are enveloping, rich, balanced and opulent, in many cases, yet always classy. The Cabernets are often supported by a profusion of very high quality French oak. They offer cellaring propositions of the highest order, emphasized by Larry's access to very high quality fruit and very high attention to detail in his vineyards. The wines included in this report are his Margaret River wines, but he also makes a collection of wines from the Great Southern. The "plus" signs in the scores here indicate that the wines will be better with time.

96 points EL robertparker.com

Larry Cherubino is all about letting the regionality of the fruits speak for themselves. Winner of James Hallidays best value winery award Larry Cherubino winnes are going from strength to strength. Multi-award winning and deservedly so.

The Larry Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay is focused, powerful and creamy. Multi-layered and complex with spice, nuts, stone fruit and green apple. The finish is clean and refined. Aromas of nutmeg and creamy oak, silky texture with a rich mid-palate. Made from clones 95, 96 and Gin-Gin.