Gold Medal - Merano Wine Hunter. The Planeta Chardonnay has become the illustration of the changes in Sicilian wine. It was created from a wish to compete in the world production of this noble and widespread variety. After a long process beginning in 1985, today Planeta’s Chardonnay is an icon for the whole of Sicily. A rich light gold colour, deep but transparent, the pleasing contrast of creaminess and crunchiness. A soft white wine supported by a refreshing note of acidity, with a slight mine

93 Points - Tim Atkin MW. Ken Forrester Wines The FMC is a premium Chenin Blanc wine produced by Ken Forrester Vineyards in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The FMC stands for "Forrester Meinert Chenin", named after the winemaking partnership between Ken Forrester and Martin Meinert. This wine is made from old vines of Chenin Blanc, which are known for producing high-quality and intense flavours. The FMC is a complex and richly textured wine that exudes aromas of apricot, honey, and roasted almonds.

A sumptuous, rich, luxurious white from the shores of lake Garda. The Molceo Lugana Riserva evokes an abundance of ripe stone and citrus fruit and a rich, succulent texture. It's utterly delicious, with layer upon layer of flavour. Harvested and sorted predominantly by hand, this 100% Turbiana, the local name for Trebbiano di Lugana is a wonderful expression of the Lugana region. Awards / Wine Press Cambero Rosso - 3 Glasses

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck. 'Les Corbonnes' is a small plot of Viognier vines on a steep slope in the commune of Chavanay, Northern Rhone. Sheltered from the wind to create a hot micro-climate, this Domaine De Boisseyt Condrieu is a rich, full-bodied and complex wine, fermented with natural yeasts and then aged for 9 months.  Aromatic with a complex nose with multiple fruity aromas of apricots, peaches, citrus fruits and spicy and woody notes. The mouth is round and fleshy, a nice minerality gives

A luxurious, approachable and expressive version of Burgundy, not only because of its price but also because it’s ready to enjoy now. The wine is partially fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 8 months. The result is captivating, elegant and buttery. This wine features a lively, aromatic nose with predominant notes of white fruit and spices, underpinned by a subtle touch of oak and vanilla. Mineral on the palate with a good balance between acidity and roundness. A gem and exceptional

A direct neighbour of the prestigious Meursault appelation, Auxey-Duresses is famous for both its whites as well as red wines. This Chardonnay, hand harvested and aged in 30% new oak barrels for 14 months, displays a freshness and generosity, with notes of honey, white flowers and citrus fruits.  About the Producer Domaine Decelle-Villa was started in 2008 when two distinguished winemakers from other regions of France decided to pool their talents and produce high quality Burgundy wines. Olivier

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast. J Vineyards bright and appealing Russian River Valley Chardonnay showcases the best of this classic cool-climate region. Aromas of citrus and orange blossom open with every swirl. Smooth and beautifully balanced, notes of yellow apple, meyer lemon and pear layer with suggestions of toasted macadamia and creamy almond. Hints of light toast and spice lift the fruit characteristics. The palate is rich, full and beautifully textured before finishing with a crisp and deli

90 Points - Wine Spectator. The vineyards for this excellent Saint-Véran are located in southern Burgundy’s Mâconnais region, and stretch out around the appellation of Pouilly-Fuissé. The southern part is located just next to Beaujolais, on the slopes of the famous Roche de Solutré and are ideally suited to the production of Chardonnay, which the appellation of Saint-Véran only produces. The nose reveals hints of smoke, followed by scents of fern and acacia, moving on to aromas of ripe fruit wit

La Petite Côte is a 100% Viognier from muscovite granite soils located in the centre of the Condrieu appellation. Benefiting from a south / south-east exposure on terraces, it is hand harvested before being aged in Burgundy barrels and blended from different plots before bottling to obtain a wonderful complexity. Aromas of apricot, quince, peach and citrus fruits, a full bodied palate with a touch of sweetness from the honey notes, La Petite Côte is a benchmark for Condrieu, and a wine everyone

90 Points (9/10) - Independent.co.uk. A direct neighbour of the prestigious Meursault appelation, Auxey-Duresses is famous for both its whites as well as red wines. This Chardonnay, hand harvested and aged in 30% new oak barrels for 14 months, displays a freshness and generosity, with notes of honey, white flowers and citrus fruits.  Taste Winemakers tasting note: The pale crystalline yellow colour bodes well for its purity, but it is especially on the nose that this wine reveals its finesse and

This lovely 1er Cru Montagny from Domaine Feuillat-Juillot is simply incredible. Arguably one the best value for money premium burgundies, Montagny is often forgotten, yet as good as many white Burgundy wines. The terroir of Les Coères is composed of old vines with an average 60 years of age. Gleaming pale gold in colour, with good aromatic intensity on the nose offering rich aromas of white fruits and vanilla intermingled with marshmallow and patisseries. Impressive volume on the first palate.

94 Points - Tasting Panel. Bonterra, a trailblazer in organic and Biodynamic farming, exemplifies its commitment with the Roost Chardonnay from Mendocino County. Crafted from biodynamic grapes sourced from the ROC Silver-certified Blue Heron Vineyard, this white wine aged for 14 months in French oak barrels offers delightful notes of apple pie, lemon blossom, and nutmeg on both the nose and palate. Its crispness, derived from a balanced acid structure, leads to a lingering finish with hints of

93 Points - Wine & Spirits. The Viré-Clessé appellation, located between Tournus and Mâcon, is the most recent of the Mâconnais region’s village appellations (1999), exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards, for the most part, are planted on hillsides, where a local type of soil derived from white limestone called “cray” can be found. This delicious Vire-Clesse is from one of Burgundy's finest. Predominant aromas of fine intense fruit, the nose reveals a touch of lemon, mango a

Made in the 16th Century old property, the Planeta Cometa is made from some of the most beautiful southern Italian grapes, comparable with the great white wines of the world and the initial project of Planeta. Cometa is the very best expression in a unique and original way of the characteristics of this extraordinary vine. Intense and fruity aromas, its great structure and minerality today make it one of the most important white wines of southern Italy. Delicate aromas of camomile, hay, mango an

"Francesco Montresor left a legal profession to take over the family estate, converting it from mixed agriculture to viticulture. The property, one of the oldest in Lugana, has 95ha in various plots in the Veronese part of the DOC, including vineyards directly overlooking Lake Garda. Creete is a toothsome late-picked, single-vineyard selection with a hint of tropical fruits and candied peel on the nose then a rich palate sustained by succulent acidity and a long, dry finish." Le Creete has aroma

This is an utterly delicious white that tastes very much like barrel-fermented Chardonnay - perhaps from Burgundy. It is rich and sumptuous, with creme anglaise, pineapple, butter and delicate wood character. Intense, with a sustained, flavoursome finish. The wine's story makes it even more fascinating. When visiting friends in Zurich, Martin Meinert was introduced to a white wine made with Merlot grapes from Ticino - the southern, Italian, part of Switzerland. He loved it so much that he resolv

Most famous for its Pinot Noir, only 10% of the wines from Savigny-Lès-Beaune are made using Chardonnay. This Savigny-Lès-Beaune is sourced from the south facing sunny climats of 'Les Planchots' and 'Les Pimentiers'. Hand harvested and fermented using natural yeasts, this is a full bodied wine with exotic fruits and golden apple, a wine to savour in its youth.  About the Producer Domaine Decelle-Villa was started in 2008 when two distinguished winemakers from other regions of France decided to p

97 Points - Halliday Wine Companion / Halliday 5 Red Star Winery. Featured in Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines, while also receiving a score of 97/100 from the Halliday Wine Companion. Briar Ridge's Single Vineyard wines are produced in very limited quantities from their unique 'Dairy Hill' vineyard block, only when vintage conditions have yielded the highest standard of fruit quality. Pure Semillon fruit aromas of Kaffir lime leaf and lemongrass, a crisp refreshing palate of citrus fruit

An elegant and refined white burgundy wine with delicate floral aromas and a beautifully balanced mineral finish. Pernand-Vergelesses is a small village nestled below the famous limestone Corton hill, known for the prestigious appellation of Corton-Charlemagne. Producing wonderfully mineral and fruit balanced wines, Pernand-Vergelesses offers great value and this old vines example from Vincent Girardin is simply lovely. Taste A fine aroma with delicate floral notes, such as apples, pears and a

Recently awarded premier cru status "Les Crays” is a terroir of limestone scree on blue Pliensbachian marl. This south-facing slope, bright and protected from the cool north wind, produces fatty wines with chiseled minerality revealing rich and multiple citrus aromas. This cuvée is harvested on several plots planted between 1930 and 1966 forming 2.16 hectares in total. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Apr 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - The Wine Front (2020) 91 Points - Decanter (2020) "In 2020, there w

95 Points - James Halliday / Halliday 5 Red Star Winery. From the vineyard’s best block of Chardonnay, south facing and planted on a 450-million-year-old marine fossil ridge, matured for 15 months with 100% new French oak fermentation, the result is a powerful, decadent yet restrained Hunter Valley Chardonnay filled with complex savoury characters, white peach, and flinty aromas. Wine Press / Awards Halliday 5 Red Star Winery "Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and

Domaine François Chidaine is a renowned winery located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the heart of the Touraine region in the Loire Valley, France. The estate spans 45 hectares and is recognised for its exceptional production of wines made primarily from Chenin Blanc grapes. This biodynamic wine from Francois Chidaine, is a cornerstone of their vineyard, honey, apple, and citrus are key notes, for this Chenin Blanc with minerality in the finish. A wonderful expression of the grape for this region.

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast. In the southernmost part of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, the 392 hectares (969 acres) of Santenay’s vines take root on the first slopes of the Mont de Sene hill. The name of this appellation refers to Roman times when the village was renowned for its thermal baths and its natural spring, "Santinae aquae", meaning "healing water" in Latin. Notes  of white flowers (acacia) and opens on lemon and candied pineapple. The palate is rich and mineral with a nice salinity, whi

Most famous for its Pinot Noir, only 10% of the wines from Savigny-Lès-Beaune are made using Chardonnay. This Savigny-Lès-Beaune from the outsanding 2019 Vintage is sourced from the south facing sunny climats of 'Les Planchots' and 'Les Pimentiers'. Hand harvested and fermented using natural yeasts, this is a full bodied wine with exotic fruits and golden apple, a wine to savour in its youth. About the Producer Domaine Decelle-Villa was started in 2008 when two distinguished winemakers from othe