2023 Amelia Park Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River

A bit highly strung, with energising acidity pulsing its way through, pushing aside the flavours of stone fruit, pineapple, grilled peach and some salty preserved lemons. There’s cedary oak and spices in the mix, nougat-honeycomb lees, so quite flavoursome, albeit on a tightly wound palate. There’s a lot to enjoy. Better with food and even another six months or so in bottle would allow this to chill out.

94 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

The Amelia Park Reserve Chardonnay from Margaret River is a polished and powerful expression of the region’s world-class white wine credentials. Amelia Park, founded by Peter Walsh in 2009, has quickly earned a reputation for producing elegant yet concentrated wines that reflect Margaret River’s maritime terroir. The Reserve Chardonnay is crafted from some of the estate’s best vineyard parcels in the Wilyabrup and Karridale subregions, where gravelly loam soils and cooling ocean breezes produce fruit with both richness and tension.

In the glass it is pale straw with green-gold hues. The nose is complex and enticing, opening with white peach, nectarine and citrus zest, layered with cashew, nougat, struck match and a touch of flinty minerality. The palate is medium to full-bodied, combining stone fruit and lemon curd flavours with creamy texture and savoury oak. Bright natural acidity provides drive and precision, while the finish is long, elegant and tightly coiled, promising years of graceful development.

Food pairings highlight its elegance and power: crayfish with lemon butter, roast chicken with truffle, seared scallops, or mushroom and leek tart. Soft cheeses such as triple-cream brie or washed rind styles also complement its richness. With 8 to 12 years of cellaring potential, the wine evolves into a more complex and nutty expression with honeyed notes and layered savouriness while retaining its citrus backbone.