2024 Forest Hill Estate Chardonnay, Mount Barker Great Southern

A lavish, lush chardonnay which has richness but not a lot of intensity, which should suit many. Toasty, sweet spices, a lick of toffee apple, some lime and preserved lemon citrus influence, a bit of talc and quite a dose of cinnamon, coconut water and cedary notes. It washes over the senses well, albeit not particularly complex. A bit diffuse, perhaps, although generally pleasing.

92 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

The Forest Hill Estate Chardonnay from Mount Barker in Western Australia’s Great Southern is a beautifully balanced wine that captures the region’s cool climate elegance and fine mineral drive. Forest Hill is the oldest cool climate vineyard in Western Australia, first planted in the mid-1960s, and has built a strong reputation for producing wines of precision and purity. The Estate Chardonnay sits at the heart of their range, crafted from hand-picked fruit grown on gravel and loam soils over granite, which lend both intensity and freshness to the finished wine.

Winemaking focuses on letting the vineyard speak. The fruit is whole-bunch pressed and wild-fermented in French oak barriques, with a portion new, adding savoury depth and spice. Lees stirring builds texture and complexity, while malolactic fermentation is carefully managed to balance creaminess with the region’s naturally crisp acidity. The result is a wine that combines ripe fruit generosity with restraint and structure.

In the glass it is pale straw with green highlights. Aromatically, it is layered and complex, showing white peach, nectarine and lemon curd alongside hints of flint, struck match, nougat and roasted nuts. The palate is medium-bodied and textural, with stone fruit and citrus framed by a fine mineral backbone and taut acidity. Oak provides subtle spice and toast, but the finish remains long, precise and elegant.

Food pairings reflect its richness and finesse: roast chicken with thyme, grilled marron, pan-seared scallops, or vegetarian dishes such as wild mushroom risotto. It also pairs beautifully with alpine cheeses like Comté. With 8 to 12 years of cellaring potential, it develops honeyed, nutty and savoury layers while retaining freshness and mineral drive.