2022 Paringa Estate The Paringa Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula

From a low-yielding vintage and just nine rows of vines now more than 30 years of age, this miniscule production that proclaims the enduring greatness of which the Mornington Peninsula is capable in a cool season. Pinpoint ripeness highlights exact white peach and grapefruit. Tightly coiled and impeccably structured even after full malolactic fermentation and a full four years of maturation, this is a chardonnay of crystalline texture and long-term potential. A worthy joint winner of my Chardonnay of the Year.

97 points Tyson Stelzer tysonstelzer.com

For The Paringa, this is a rather tight, almost pared-back style. I like it. It still has a core of stone fruit and lemon/grapefruit with zest, all doused with ginger spice and nuanced cedary oak, but the driving acidity keeps everything on a tight leash. It’s invigorating and delicious.

95 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

Complex and lifted aromas of grapefruit pith, grilled nuts, just-ripe stone fruit, bacon fat, white flowers and melon skin. There’s lovely texture, mouth-feel and purity of flavour here. There’s a seamlessness to the fruit and oak and the acidity also delivers cut and shape. Very classy chardonnay 07 Sep 2024

95 points Aaron Brasher therealreview.com

The Paringa' Single Vineyard Chardonnay is the ultimate expression of the unique home vineyard in Red Hill South. It comes from a block of nine rows, which are now 30 years old. The name “The Paringa” denotes the single vineyard origin of this wine. Lindsay McCall planted the first vines on the Paringa Estate vineyard in 1985, with ten acres being under vine by 1990. From this site fruit of distinction is born from a combination of red volcanic (Ferrasol) soil, a north facing aspect and altitude of 146m on Paringa Road, Red Hill South. In creating this wine viticulture and winemaking practices are approached with the intent of preserving a pure expression of site from soil through to bottle.