TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2019 - Yarra Valley, Australia

Bronze, International Wine Challenge 2019
93/100 Halliday Wine Companion
5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion
91/100 Jeremy Oliver (2016 vintage)
92/100 Jeremy Oliiver (2015 vintage)
90/100 Tye Wine Front (2014 vintage)

Australia's Top 52 Wineries of 2020 - N#28 - Sydney Morning Herald 

A wine only released in exceptional vintages

Sunday Telegraph “For long one of the Yarra Valley's [Australia] signature chardonnays, the style continues to be tweaked by winemaker Clare Halloran to ensure its continued rousing mouthfeel, freshness and subtle marriage of oak. Very much a fruit-driven explosion of chardonnay's finest attributes, all moulded with great balance and care.”

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “A racy, fresh and drink-now style that's lightly spiced, citrussy with some complexing sulphides and creamy lees. Lithe and long with a fine line of natural acidity. A good drink.”

Wine Companion "There's really fine, tangy acidity throughout and nothing is out of place....an amalgam of flavours, but is more citrus-toned and spiced with ginger."

Huan Hooke, The Real Review "Light to very light straw colour, looks and smells backward. Shaved almond and floral nuances."

International Wine Challenge “Attractive struck match nose with an easy-drinking creamy stone fruit palate.”

The Winemaker “The wine has grapefruit and lemon zest aromas with underlying notes of cashew nuts. The tight palate reflects the season, with texture derived from 10 months on lees and a lovely drive with the persistence of flavour. With oak and tank maturation, the wine shows an elegant complexity with appealing freshness.”

TarraWarra Estate has some of the Yarra Valley's oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, and is considered one of the region's foremost wineries. Located in one of Australia's best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir growing regions, Tarrawarra Estate is estate is rated by top Australian wine critic, James Halliday as “one of the top-tier wineries in the Yarra Valley”. It is best known for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Conde Naste Traveller "Make a stop here to taste the best of the region. The cellar door sits on a thousand acres of prime Yarra Valley farmland and vineyards. There are 28 blocks planted with cool-climate grapes, including chardonnay and pinot noir—this region’s stars—as well as shiraz, merlot, and more."

In addition to the beautiful TarraWarra Estate in the Yarra Valley, owners Marc Besen and wife Eva Besen are the custodians of the most significant privately held collection of modern Australian art in the country, now exhibited for much of the year at the TarraWarra Museum of Art.

The Yarra Valley is a well-respected Australian wine region which occupies the eastern half of the Port Phillip viticultural zone in the diminutive state of Victoria. At complete odds with the usual, hot and dry Shiraz-growing image of Australia, Yarra Valley is best known for its bright, complex wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.