2025 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Chardonnay, Margaret River

This vineyard has really been turning out some quite marvellous wines in recent years. It took a bit of work, but the results are in the bottle. This is a beautiful, vibrant, lively Chardonnay with that subtle degree of complexity complementing the natural fruit characters. Nutty lemon curd and deeper stone fruit characters on the nose. And yet on the palate it presents with such poise and restraint, though with a deep palate intensity that extends effortlessly to a very long finish. That lovely refreshing acidity and its slightly savoury characters complete what is a very good wine. Drink 2026 to 2036.

96 points Ray Jordan for Wine Pilot, April 2026

An impressive Margaret River Chardonnay from the Ribbon Vale Vineyard, handpicked fruit was delivered to the winery for hand sorting and whole bunch pressing. Fermentation began in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures before, at the halfway point, the wine was transferred to French oak barriques, 32% of which were new, to complete that fermentation, and also malolactic fermentation. The wine spent nine months in oak for maturation. Gleaming gold in colour, the nose exhibits notes of nectarines, peaches, grapefruit pith, a flick of well-integrated oak and oatmeal. A slightly riper style, the wine is richly flavoured and the texture seamless. Of medium length with a minerally backing, this will provide attractive drinking for at least the next half dozen years, longer for those with patience. Drink 2026 to 2032.

93 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, April 2026

The 2025 Ribbon Vale Chardonnay is a delight showing an energetic core of seamless pear and apple aromas with an exotic twist. Creamy textured and full flavoured with some savoury nutty tones and beautifully integrated oak, this wine is delicious and here for a good time, not a long time. Drink 2026-2030.

92 points Angus Hughson for Wine Pilot, April 2026

Moss Wood was established in 1969 and is one of the oldest producers in Margaret River. Clare & Keith Mugford, as winemakers, viticulturalists and proprietors, have been making wine and tending the vineyard at Moss Wood since 1984 and 1979, respectively.

The Ribbon Vale vineyard sits adjacent to the home block in Wilyabrup but at slightly higher elevation its is marginally cooler, producing Chardonnay with brighter citrus and grapefruit character than the Moss Wood vineyard which tends to lean towards richer yellow peach and marmalade. Now in its fifth vintage, the Ribbon Vale Chardonnay is finding its own confident voice.

The 2025 season at large trouble free, and defined by consistency rather than extremes, and Wilyabrup wines show good balance and structure. Hand-picked was further hand-sorted at the winery and whole-bunch pressed. The juice was clarified and inoculated with multiple yeast strains with primary fermentation commencing in stainless steel tanks. The wine was transferred to predominantly seasoned 228-litre French oak barriques halfway through fermentation and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation. Maturation continued in oak for approximately nine months before the wine was racked and blended in stainless steel. Fined with bentonite, cold stabilised and sterile filtered before bottling in the second week of 2026.

Pale bright straw, the nose is fresh and composed — lemon curd, grapefruit and white peach with cashew, vanilla and a fine marzipan thread from the lees. The palate is textural and concentrated with vibrant acidity and a long, clean finish.

Try with simple but high-quality crustaceans or deep water fish like mulloway when younger. Mature bottles open up a wide range of food options, including roasted fowl and pork, as well as refined Cantonese banquets.