2024 L.A.S. Vino Wildberry Springs Chardonnay, Margaret River

A warmer vintage yet a cool wine. Plenty of flavour and richness, but not at the expense of acidity, freshness and clarity. Some complexing sulphides add to this, sitting neatly with flavours of dried pears, lemon and lime, yet it's super savoury, spicy and moreish. Sits in the fuller-bodied range without being weighty; seems charged with energy/acidity, with a slip of texture – a little buttery and creamy.

95 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

L.A.S. Vino Wildberry Springs Chardonnay from Margaret River is a thrilling, complex and beautifully textural white wine that captures the creativity and precision of winemaker Nic Peterkin, one of the region’s most admired talents. The name L.A.S. stands for Luck, Art and Science, which perfectly reflects Peterkin’s philosophy of blending instinct, experimentation and respect for the vineyard to produce expressive, soulful wines. The Wildberry Springs Chardonnay is sourced from an exceptional dry-grown site in Wilyabrup, renowned for producing fruit of incredible purity and natural balance.

The grapes come from biodynamically farmed vines planted in the late 1980s on gravelly loam soils over clay. They are hand picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak barriques, around a third of them new. The wine remains on its lees for several months to build texture and savoury depth, with partial malolactic fermentation used to retain freshness and tension. The result is a Chardonnay of extraordinary precision, layered flavour and natural energy.

In the glass it shows pale gold with green reflections. The aroma opens with white peach, lemon curd and hazelnut, followed by hints of flint, sea spray and brioche. On the palate it is elegant and intense, revealing layers of stone fruit, citrus and subtle oak wrapped around a core of minerality and taut acidity. The finish is long, pure and savoury, a hallmark of both the vineyard and Peterkin’s restrained, hands-on winemaking style.

L.A.S. Vino Wildberry Springs Chardonnay pairs beautifully with lobster, roast chicken, scallops or truffle risotto. It also suits soft cheeses and seafood with butter and herbs. Stunning on release, it will age gracefully for more than a decade, gaining nutty complexity and honeyed richness over time.