Still basking in the sunlight of its vibrant freshness and, at the same time, its complexity. The Giaconda '16, '17 and '18 Chardonnays are magnificent. It is frowned upon these days to mention Burgundy, but on the scale of weight and complexity, these are the Montrachets, the Grand Crus of the Australian chardonnay landscape. The freshness and clarity of this wine keeps it right at the top.
98 points, Wine Companion (July 2019)
Medium yellow colour, not 100% filter-bright, with a smoky, chicken coop, low-level sulfide influenced bouquet, the full-bodied palate very rich and full, soft and round and cuddly, with delicious flavour and shape. Complex layers of fruit flavours as well as oak and lees and sulfide notes. Stacks of ripe-fruit sweetness in the mid-palate. It’s a gentle, rounded, almost opulent style of chardonnay with great flavour and harmony. Magnificent. They've used the full paintbox. There's everything you could want in a chardonnay in this bottle.
98 points, The Real Review (May 2018)
Another notch in the belt for this beautifully ripe and concentrated chardonnay, which has the sort of depth and layering that is seen in the DNA of a wine like Le Montrachet. The ripe nectarines and peaches are stunning, and the phenolic texture is beautifully delivered. The long citrus and peach finish is embossed with warm grilled nuts and nougat. Another masterpiece. Drink or hold.
97 points, JamesSuckling.com (June 2018)
Pleasant amount of struck match sulphides, lemon curd, oatmeal, lemon and rind, balanced acidity, cool and smooth, cinnamon biscuits, pithy finish of good length, though not amazing. Perhaps some nectarine and a lightly smoky aftertaste. Fleshy style, good to drink, though perhaps not one for the ages.
94 points, The Wine Front (July 2018)
Beechworth
Located in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, Beechworth is a small cool climate region with high continentality. The vineyards enjoy a large number of sunshine hours and are generally planted at altitudes of 400m. A variety of soil types are found with the two dominant ones being ancient sandstone gravel and clay and granitic loams over decomposed gravels and clays. While north or north-easterly slopes are generally favoured, the best sites are located away from higher altitude, cold-air drainage channels, with the risk of frost high in both spring and autumn. Restricted water availability means most vineyards are dry-grown. A region of small boutique producers, Beechworth is best known for premium Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, although plantings of Italian varieties including Sangiovese and Nebbiolo also show great promise.
