2025 Paringa Estate Peninsula Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula

Established in 1985 on a north facing slope at Red Hill, Paringa Estate has become one of Mornington Peninsula’s benchmark producers under the steady hand of founder Lindsay McCall. What began as a small, hands on vineyard has grown into a highly respected estate known for meticulous viticulture and thoughtful, detail driven winemaking. Drawing from estate fruit and carefully selected Peninsula sites, this Chardonnay reflects the region’s maritime influence, with cooling breezes from Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay ensuring a long, even ripening season on clay and sandy loam soils.

In the glass it shows a pale straw colour with a bright green edge. Aromas are layered and refined, offering white peach, nectarine and lemon zest alongside grapefruit pith, roasted cashew and a subtle flinty note. A gentle saline lift hints at its coastal origin and adds freshness.

The palate is medium to full bodied yet beautifully composed, balancing stone fruit generosity with vibrant natural acidity. Citrus and orchard fruit flow across a creamy mid palate shaped by careful oak maturation and lees work. A fine mineral thread carries through to a long, focused finish, lingering with lemon curd, toasted almond and quiet complexity. It captures the modern Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay style of texture, energy and restraint.

Serve with grilled scallops, roast chicken with thyme, lobster with herb butter or mushroom risotto. Delicious now for its vibrancy and balance, it will cellar confidently for eight to twelve years, developing nutty, honeyed depth while retaining its structural backbone.