2024 TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley is a standout cool-climate white that consistently overdelivers, offering finesse, vibrancy and incredible value. Widely praised by critics and sommeliers alike, it’s a benchmark example of modern Australian Chardonnay made with precision and restraint.

Winemaker Sarah Fagan, formerly of De Bortoli and now leading the winemaking at TarraWarra, brings deep Yarra Valley expertise and a minimalist touch. She focuses on expressing the purity of the fruit and the nuances of site, crafting wines that are elegant, layered and balanced. The fruit is sourced from estate vineyards in both the cooler Upper Yarra and the more established sites near the cellar door, capturing a blend of citrus-driven lift and mid-palate richness.

The winemaking is focused but gentle — whole-bunch pressed, wild fermented in French oak barriques with partial malolactic fermentation to build texture, followed by ageing on lees to enhance depth and complexity. There is no heavy oak or overt butteriness, just precision and quiet power.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of white nectarine, lemon curd, flint and cashew. The palate is bright and linear, with fine acidity, creamy lees texture and a long, mineral finish. It’s polished, but never flashy — a Chardonnay of balance, charm and refreshment.

Pair it with grilled prawns, chicken with tarragon cream, or a mushroom and leek tart. While beautiful young, it will reward short-term cellaring over the next five to seven years.