2025 Heirloom Vineyards Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

This rings well as a soft, unctuous expression of chardonnay, though fruit character is somewhat painted in watercolour and there's a gumminess and cloying nature to texture that distracts a little. Lemon balm, peach nectar, nougat and dusty cinnamon feature. Drink it extra cold to tighten it up and eke out extra freshness. Drink to 2029.

87 points Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion, May 2026

Not every Chardonnay needs to be a tense, tightly wound mineral exercise. This release from Heirloom Vineyards leans comfortably into a softer, more generous lane. Think of this as an ideal casual weeknight treat, a glass to pour while sitting on the sofa or one to enjoy with comfort cooking when you want something smooth and easy going.

Enjoy with a creamy chicken and leek pie, or seared pork chops with salsa verde topped with preserved lemon.

More about this wine

This 2025 Chardonnay comes to us from a warm, dry and early season.

The free run juice fermented with indigenous yeasts, after which the wine was gently pressed, allowed malolactic fermentation and matured for nine months in French oak barriques of which 15% were new.

About Heirloom Vineyards

Heirloom Vineyards is a venture of winemaker Elena Brooks and her husband, Zar. Established in 2000, their goal is to preserve the best of tradition, the unique old vineyards of South Australia, and to champion the best clones of each variety, embracing organic and biodynamic farming. Fruit is sourced from growers across the state, from Coonawarra up to Barossa’s Eden Valley.