2023 Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Trophy Best White Wine of Show
Trophy Best Chardonnay of Show
96 Points
Yarra Valley Wine Show 2024

From chardonnay planted at the Hazeldene vineyard at Gladysdale in '13. Awarded the trophy for the Best White Wine at last year's Yarra Valley Wine Show, it's not hard to see why. Complex and full of energy with its bouquet of white peach, chalk, grilled nuts and a touch of flint. Fans out beautifully on the long, saline and very satisfying palate. Terrific now, this should age superbly over the next five to 10 years.

96 points Special Value Philip Rich winecompanion.com.au

Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley is a beautifully refined and finely tuned expression of cool climate Australian Chardonnay, crafted under the precision and clarity driven philosophy that Oakridge has become famous for. The Hazeldene vineyard sits in the Upper Yarra where higher altitude, cooler temperatures and volcanic red soils create fruit with incredible tension, citrus drive and mineral finesse. The site’s mix of volcanic loam and ancient mudstone gives the wine its chalky texture and crystalline focus, while the long growing season allows flavours to build slowly, capturing purity without heaviness. Oakridge has a long history of single vineyard mastery, and Hazeldene is one of the jewels in that collection.

Winemaking is elegant, measured and very much in the modern Yarra Valley mould. Grapes are hand picked and whole bunch pressed with great delicacy. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in French oak, mostly seasoned, to build subtle layers rather than overt oak influence. Lees stirring is gentle, used only to bring shape and subtle creaminess. The result is a Chardonnay that leans toward precision, citrus brightness and mineral poise rather than richness, echoing a restrained Chablis or upper Côte de Beaune style while still carrying the fragrance and lift typical of the Yarra.

In the glass it sits pale straw with green highlights. The nose is vibrant and pure with white peach, lemon zest, grapefruit pith and green apple woven through flint, crushed stone, almond skin and delicate white florals. As the wine opens, faint hints of hazelnut, nougat, fennel and brioche emerge, adding quiet complexity without shifting the wine away from its mineral core.

The palate is sleek, taut and beautifully textured. Citrus and stone fruit glide across a fine line of acidity, supported by a chalky, almost powdery mineral feel that reflects the Hazeldene soils. Flavours of lemon curd, peach skin, nashi pear and subtle oak spice unfold gracefully across the mid palate. The wine finishes long, pure and slightly saline, with lingering citrus brightness and restrained savoury depth. It is a Chardonnay of focus and balance that drinks with remarkable poise today but will gain additional nutty and honeyed layers over five to eight years.

Pair it with roasted chicken and tarragon, seared scallops, grilled whiting, mushroom and thyme gnocchi, creamy vegetable dishes, sushi, lemon butter pasta or soft cheeses. Its freshness and finesse make it wonderfully versatile.