Mayfield Vineyard Estate Range'Eighteen Fifteen' Chardonnay

Maturation in French puncheons and hogsheads, of which 35% was new. Regular lees stirring and full mlf. Lemon sherbet, dandelion and chamomile flowers. A hint of cantaloupe and papaya. Buddha's hand citrus and tangerine oil. Quite a lot of savoury notes this vintage, cumin, paperbark and cold tea leaf. Mlf shows in its churned butter creaminess, and oak surrounds its tropical and citrus fruit core. Again, this wine over-delivers in value at its price.

These wines from Mayfield Vineyard continue to make all the right moves. This 2023 release of the Eighteen Fifteen Chardonnay dials things up on the previous vintage. It carries much the same shape with flinty and matchstick things along with concentrated peach and nectarine. But it's the more precise focus that has me hooked this time in. Some richness drives long with a palate etched with fine ginger snap biscuit spices. Danish pastry and ribbons of delicate vanilla hug each turn. An incredibly satisfying drink, pour me another glass, please. Drink to five years+

A vibrant, light yellow in the glass and a beautifully expressive noses that has concentration of stone fruits as well as the unmistakable spiced impact of quality new oak and the creaminess that comes from time on lees. The palate has expansive white peach and cashew with flint giving an embellishment and textured acidity ensuring balance and drive. The finish lingers with a mealy richness. A complete package.

This release pays homage to the original release & from the same vineyard blocks. The initial palate channels melony fruit & apricot kernel flavours. The vibrant freshness of typical cool-climate Chardonnay characters is supported by French oak flavours and creamy malolactic palate roundness. This is an upper tier, very refreshing young Chardonnay of grip, length, texture and quality. All the current generous youthful attributes will also reward some cellaring.

Pale hue with green highlights. Flinty and struck match tightness with nutty savoury base thanks to tasteful oak and winemaking influence (lees stirring). Hints of ginger, bread crust, sesame oil, grapefruit and lemon barley with white blossoms, a little creamy Jersey caramel and stone fruit. Strikes a good balance with fleshing out creamy lees and barrel work before the striking flintiness and sharp regional acid drive. Good length and persistence with a little toothsome texture for added pleasure.

Finally, we’re seeing more top-end Orange Chardonnay. Like a sleeping giant, the Chardies from the side of Mt Canobolas are/could/will be great. This is a heavily worked style with lots of reductive notes – it’s going to be divisive, but I see it as complex, too. In a wine show, I would either win trophies or get no medal, and I could see both sides (and my score went up and down many times). It smells of yoghurt, Golden Sao biscuits and whipped butter, with that creamy funk a big character. Unlike some wines made in this mode, it’s actually a pretty clever wine, with punchy peach fruit, spiced oak adding a layer, and then tangy green apple acid punctuating the finish. That sour cream vs taut malic acid contrast is quite intriguing and long. I liked it.

"A tightly coiled yet layered and potent Chardonnay. Goes at a couple of speeds and navigates that well. Opens with scents of nougat, white chocolate, ripe peach, wet fern and pine needles. The palate ripples around a core of limey, green apple acidity with mixed stone fruit, more nougat, some sweet spice and a touch of green pineapple. Pleasing, refined and distinct for the variety."

The 2023 Eighteen Fifteen Chardonnay leads with scraped vanilla pod, white peach, green apple, cashews and butter on toast. In the mouth, the wine is layered with juniper and hints of cassis, shortbread, strawberry, vanilla tea, crushed oyster shells and brine. It's a pretty wine, with very fine acidity that laces the layers of flavor together. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

"Hello Orange Region Chardonnay! This wine first had me when pouring it, then it pulled me in further when my sense of smell was activated by the aromas, and then had me dancing a jig when I tasted it. It is youthful and vibrant, as you would expect from a young Chardonnay, while having a smooth, textural feel as it sits nicely on the palate. There’s a deft touch of oak poking through also and, I have to mention the long goodbye it gives as it leaves your mouth to make room for another hard-to-resist sip."

A distinctly cool climate grapefruit/white nectarine style with subtle oak and lees complexity. It’s tight, long and creamy, with uplifting acidity.

Enticing bouquet of limes, lemons with a dollop of vanillin oak. The palate is divine, silky smooth with magnificent flavours, it is perfectly balanced with a slightly crisp, refreshing finish. DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!!!

The Orange wine region in the Central West of New South Wales is producing several exceptional wines right now and this one from a vineyard on the Mayfield property, which dates to 1815, is very much on song. It is a stylish modern chardonnay made with minimal intervention that offers classic stone fruit and citrus notes and bright acidity on the finish. Oak plays a support role but is not obvious. This would be excellent with pork spareribs or a spicy roast chicken.