2024 Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series sits, at least in theory, below their prestige range known as ‘864’. To be honest, particularly with this Chardonnay, I think they might have a little trouble as it is very hard to imagine that even any of their wonderful 864 Chardonnays will be able to top this wine. This is an absolute cracker and while it may not be priced for daily drinking, it is ridiculously undervalued. For this money, good luck finding anything in Burgundy which comes within cooee. The Hazeldene Vineyard is in the Gladysdale sub-region. The wine was made by whole bunch pressing directly into 500-litre French oak puncheons, with a natural fermentation, and then fourteen months maturation. A shimmering pale lemon hue, the complexity and quality in this wine is immediately evident. The nose reveals notes of hazelnuts, stone fruits, citrus, grilled cashews, peaches, nectarines, melon and a touch of jasmine. The wine of exquisite balance, finesse and power, there is extraordinary length here. The intensity is maintained for the entire journey. A brilliant Chardonnay which will easily handle the next twelve years. Wow! Drink 2026 to 2038.

97 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, April 2026

Light colour for its age, a backward developing wine with a reticent nose, showing some greener herbal/nettle traces and a hint of slivered almond, and the palate confirms this as a lean, early-picked style with high acidity and nerviness. It finishes with a little hardness: surely a wine that demands patience and could reward with cellaring. Drink 2027 to 2036.

91 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, March 2026

Oakridge has been one of the Yarra Valley's most significant Chardonnay producers for over two decades under Chief Winemaker David Bicknell. The Vineyard Series is where individual sites are given their own voice, and the Hazeldene expression has emerged as one of the most consistently admired in the range. The vineyard was planted in 2013 on a north-facing slope at Gladysdale in the upper Yarra Valley on red volcanic soils. The cool, elevated conditions produce Chardonnay that is restrained, mineral and energetic.

The first half of the 2024 season was cold and wet but gave way to a dry, temperate autumn, near-perfect conditions that allowed fruit to ripen slowly and evenly without the pressure of heat or drought. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed directly to 500 litre French oak puncheons for wild fermentation, then matured on lees to build texture without blunting the wine's inherent freshness.

Pale straw with a bright hue, the nose is detailed and inviting, with aromas of lemon rind, white peach and nectarine with white flowers, grapefruit and a thread of flint. The palate is focused and energetic with vibrant acidity, stone fruit generosity and a long, saline mineral finish.

Excellent balance and real drinking pleasure. Enjoy with grilled scallops and prawns, or maybe a steamed barramundi when young. Broaden things up a bit with bottle age to include lighter meats and more complex flavours at large.

Drink now through 2031.