2024 Dandelion Twilight of the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

A fleshy yet bright chardonnay that leans into clean lines, frisky stone fruit characters, green mango and green melon with flickers of woody and sweet spices, a touch of herbaceousness and a tart, lemony finish. It has a sense of lightness and simplicity that suggests an open invitation to all chardonnay drinkers. Good, good.

90 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

High in the cool, elevated vineyards of the Adelaide Hills, Dandelion Vineyards crafts wines that reflect both the beauty of the region and the character of carefully chosen vineyard sites. The winery was founded by winemaker Elena Brooks together with Zar Brooks, whose approach centres on working with old vineyards and growers across South Australia. Twilight of the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay draws fruit from cooler hillside vineyards where long ripening seasons allow the grapes to develop flavour while retaining bright natural acidity.

The fruit is handled with a thoughtful balance of modern technique and traditional care, allowing the purity of the Adelaide Hills fruit to remain at the forefront while gentle maturation adds texture and complexity. The cool nights and elevation of the vineyards contribute to the wine’s freshness and aromatic lift.

The wine shows a pale straw colour with bright green highlights. Aromas open with white peach, nectarine and lemon zest layered with hints of grapefruit, roasted almond and subtle oak spice. With time in the glass delicate notes of brioche and citrus blossom begin to appear. The palate is vibrant and beautifully balanced with flavours of stone fruit, lemon curd and crisp apple supported by lively acidity and a smooth, lightly creamy texture. The finish is long and refreshing with a fine mineral thread that reflects the cool climate vineyards of the Adelaide Hills.

It works particularly well with grilled prawns, roast chicken, seared scallops or creamy seafood dishes where the wine’s freshness and gentle richness complement the flavours.