2024 Mike Press Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

A smooth ride with lots of flavour and requisite freshness. Sure, it finishes a little short, but what's here delivers a good hit of chardonnay 101 with its stone fruits, preserved lemon licks, a touch of baked apple and the faintest dash of sweet spice. Right on.

Special Value Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

Mike Press Single Vineyard Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets — a wine that consistently delivers exceptional quality at a price that seems almost too good to be true. Grown on the Press family’s high-altitude vineyard near Lobethal, this Chardonnay captures the cool-climate vibrancy, clarity and finesse that define the region, all without the luxury price tag. Critics regularly single it out as one of the greatest value-for-money Chardonnays in the country.

The wine is made with minimal intervention. Fruit is hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel to preserve brightness and varietal character, with a portion seeing time in seasoned French oak for added texture and complexity. The winemaking is restrained, allowing the purity of the vineyard site to speak through the glass.

The nose is fresh and inviting, with aromas of white peach, lemon curd, nectarine, and a touch of cashew and flint. On the palate, it’s medium bodied and balanced, offering stone fruit, citrus zest, subtle oak spice and a fine line of acidity that drives through to a clean, mineral finish. There’s a lovely interplay of creaminess and cut — more refinement than its price would ever suggest.

Food pairing: perfect with grilled chicken, seafood linguine, roast pork with apple, creamy mushroom risotto or washed rind cheeses like Pont l’Évêque. Also great with simple grilled vegetables or roast cauliflower.

Cellar potential: ready to enjoy now for its freshness and fruit purity, but will hold comfortably for 3 to 5 years as it develops soft nutty complexity.