2023 Yarrawood Estate Tall Tales Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Yarrawood Estate’s Tall Tales Chardonnay comes from the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley, a region renowned for producing some of Australia’s most refined and age-worthy Chardonnays. The estate itself is family-owned, with vineyards established in the late 1990s on prime cool-climate slopes in the northern part of the Valley near Yarra Glen. Their Tall Tales range is about storytelling in a bottle, celebrating the history, character, and charm of the region.

The Chardonnay is crafted to show both generosity of flavour and elegance. Fruit is hand-selected from estate vines, fermented in French oak, and matured on lees to bring complexity and a gentle creamy texture. The bouquet opens with notes of white peach, nectarine, and citrus blossom, woven together with hints of toasted hazelnut and subtle spice from oak. On the palate, the wine is vibrant and layered, offering stone fruit richness balanced by crisp acidity and a long, mineral finish.

Food pairings lean toward dishes that mirror its balance of freshness and depth. Think grilled lobster with garlic butter, roast chicken with herbs, or a soft-shell crab tempura. It also works beautifully with creamy polenta and roasted mushrooms. While already drinking gracefully, it has the structure to evolve nicely over the next 5 to 7 years, gaining more honeyed, nutty complexity with time in bottle.