Liberated from the 1980's cardboard box, Chardonnay was the varietal of choice at last months tasting. These days Chardonnay has had quite the face lift, there are many premium Chardy's on the market made by fastidious winemakers keen to express not only their vineyard but also their own thumb print.


This versatile berry has many disguises from the rich oaked style to fresh and lean. Shaw and Smith's M3 was the top wine on this occasion. I can't go past the complexity and balance of this wine. Lush with notes of apple, pear and fig integrated with spice and toasty oak of unmatched length.


Golding Chardonnay from Lenswood is full and lavish with toasty vanilla and biscuit notes. This wine shows apricot and a deliciously intense finish of well balanced fruit and oak.



On the other side of the spectrum give Ravenswood Lane Chardonnay a go. Lively with lemon, citrus and green apple this wine shows a crisp zesty palate of medium length.