2024 Kooyong Estate Chardonnay Half Botle 375ml, Mornington Peninsula

Half Bottle 375mL

Some good gear coming out of Kooyong with vintage ’24, namely its range of chardonnay. Pure and precise with a core citrus, ginger spice and subtle oak. The palate builds with fine lees, lithe acidity and excellent length. Everything is in its place, and the wine is balanced and harmonious. Oh, and really yummy, too.

96 points & Special Value Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion, June 2026

Bright, lively, mid-straw in the glass. Lifted aromas of grapefruit pith, white flowers, wet stone, just-ripe white stone fruit and nougat. Pithy, focused, crunchy and layered. There's real snap and texture to the fruit, with plenty of drive, cut and presence. Long, and layered, with nutty oak working seamlessly with the precise fruit. Drink to 2032.

95 points Aaron Brasher for The Real Review, June 2025

Potential plus! In the rush for immediate drinking gratification, the potential for further ageing with Chardonnay is often overlooked. This is one wine that asks you to stop and consider what might be. The deep fruit concentration, the role of toasty oak and the still developing nature of the wine might be something you might wish to consider. A sheen of stylish toasty oak roams widely with vanilla pod, woody spices, stone fruits, melon and an attractive savoury note of preserved lemon, all dressed in super bright acidity. The first instinct is to consider more time in the bottle. The second instinct is to wonder just how long? How’s your patience level?

94 points Jeni Port for Wine Pilot, May 2025

Precise and steely aromas of lemon pith, flint, apple blossoms and sourdough bread. The palate is tightly wound, with a medium-bodied mouthfeel, bright acidity and high tension that is built to soften with time in the bottle. Nicely constructed with a nervy edge. Drink or hold.

94 points James Suckling, March 2025

The Kooyong Estate Chardonnay from the Mornington Peninsula is a benchmark expression of this cool-climate region, showcasing both elegance and precision. Kooyong, established in 1996 and now part of the Port Phillip Estate family, is renowned for its focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, crafted from estate vineyards that benefit from Mornington’s maritime climate, long growing season and diverse soils. The Estate Chardonnay represents a blend of parcels across the property, offering a beautifully balanced snapshot of Kooyong’s house style.

Winemaking is guided by a philosophy of minimal intervention. The fruit is hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak barriques, a portion of which are new. Lees stirring adds texture, while malolactic fermentation is carefully managed to bring depth and creaminess without compromising freshness. The result is a wine that balances generosity of fruit with restraint and fine structure.

In the glass it is pale straw with green tinges. The nose is expressive and layered, showing white peach, lemon curd and nectarine alongside hints of flint, struck match, nougat and toasted hazelnut. On the palate it is medium-bodied and elegant, with juicy stone fruit and citrus carried by bright acidity and a fine mineral backbone. Subtle oak adds spice and savoury complexity, while the finish is long, focused and refreshing.

Food pairings highlight its balance of richness and tension: roast chicken with lemon and thyme, grilled lobster with butter, seared scallops, or vegetarian dishes like pumpkin risotto. It also pairs beautifully with semi-hard cheeses such as Gruyère. With 8 to 10 years of cellaring potential, the wine develops further layers of honey, almond and toast while maintaining its fresh, mineral edge.