2023 Southern Light Lightfall Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

From a 41-year-old, west-facing vineyard in Healesville. A bright green gold. A bouquet of yellow peach, acacia honey and cashew. A little richer than the Seven Slopes of Rising Nillumbik Chardonnay. The palate is mouth-filling, with good weight, yet finely tuned and long. Delicious now and over the next three to five years.

96 points Philip Rich for Halliday Wine Companion

The Yarra Valley continues to cement its reputation as one of Australia’s great Chardonnay regions, combining cool climate elegance with remarkable flavour intensity, and Southern Light’s Lightfall Chardonnay leans beautifully into that modern style. Crafted from carefully selected vineyard parcels across the valley, the wine captures the freshness, fine acidity and subtle complexity that have made Yarra Chardonnay such a favourite among critics and collectors alike.

The 2023 vintage is bright, energetic and wonderfully balanced. White peach, nectarine and grapefruit aromas rise from the glass alongside hints of lemon curd, struck flint and roasted cashew. There is a lovely tension here between ripe stone fruit and crisp mineral freshness, with subtle oak adding texture and gentle spice rather than overt richness. The palate feels silky yet focused, unfolding in layers of citrus, orchard fruit and savoury lees complexity before finishing long and mouthwatering with a fine chalky edge.

Fresh seafood is an obvious match, particularly grilled prawns, scallops or lobster rolls with lemon butter. It would also shine beside roast chicken with tarragon, crispy pork belly or creamy mushroom pasta loaded with parmesan and herbs. As the wine opens in the glass more savoury detail begins to emerge, making it equally enjoyable for casual dinners or slower evenings when there is time to appreciate every layer. Delicious now for its freshness and purity, though it has enough structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5 to 8 years.