Bob McDonald

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. — 5 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Quite lemony, grapefruit, citrus, mineral. Nose is modern Australian Chardonnay with struck match and flint. Palate showing grapefruit, citrus and mineral and quite lean compared to other Margaret River Chardonnay icons like Leeuwin Art Series and Pierro. Minimal oak influence. Could cellar for a few more years. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

I made some great notes on Sunday and then lost them! Overall a delicate wine with excellent oak treatment to match the lighter fruit. Under ripe white flesh stone fruit and grapefruit with a minor toasty vanilla note. Many of my previous experiences with Cali Chardonnay were overoaked but this had great balance and thoroughly enjoyable. I notice some other tasters noted ripe Chardonnay fruit - certainly not in comparison to Leeuwin Art Series in my experience. — 3 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Nicely aromatic & restrained (for Australia) with purity of dark fruit (blackberries, plums, mulberry), nice depth and excellent tannins quality - juicy, polished, finely grained.
Very elegant & with beautiful balance between the ripeness & savoury notes.
A really lovely wine! — 2 months ago

Rodney Miller

9.7

Pale gold, a beautiful nose of red apple there is salinity and mineralogy on the palate. Lots of of fruit including watermelon, nectarines and more apple. A beautiful wine with a long life ahead of it! — 7 months ago

Big Wave Dave

9.5

2021 release at Penfolds tasting. A big and structured wine but with beautiful detail, complexity, and length. There is flint, smoke, rounded sweet lemon, caramel, and wet stone. Built to age but fabulous now. More structured than Kumeu or Leeuwin Art Series, but at Burg 1er cru price point, not great p/q for new world chard. — 2 years ago

with Racquel

Bob McDonald

9.3

Ripe grapefruit, almost peachy - a little funk which blew off. Enough palate cleansing acidity to make this very moreish. A delicious wine which is amazing value at only $21.50 per bottle from one of the best Chardonnay producers in the New World. A big statement I know but try his premium Mate’s Vineyard and see what you think. Had my last one 31 weeks later on 28th January 2023 at Paros on the Gold Coast with consistent notes. A few days previous we had Leeuwin Estate’s 2nd wine called Prelude which was about 50% dearer than this Kumeu Village. We preferred the Kumeu. Astounding value for money and an annual purchase for me. — 3 years ago

K Brooks

9.1

Delicious with Pat’s filet mignon — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

My last bottle of 2015 Woodlands Chloe. Quite restrained - very well made. Everything in balance at 9 years of age. Last bottle we had was in early 2023 - matched with the 2015 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay and some tasters preferred the 2015 Chloe. White peach. Not too lean, not too full bodied - perfect balance - a “goldilocks” Margaret River Chardonnay. Woodlands is better known for its stellar Cabernet and Cabernet blends but also makes this fine Chardonnay. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

“Funky Road Medina”! Struck Match, smoky, nutty, leesy - somewhat worked. Too Lean on the palate to be a Trophy Winner for my taste. Light to medium weight palate - citrus and pink grapefruit with Medium acid. This wine was awarded the Trophy for Best Chardonnay at the Royal Queensland Wine Show about a month ago. From Margaret River but leaner than the other famous Chardonnays there like Leeuwin Estate, Heytesbury, Pierro etc. Not cheap at $100 per bottle. Will improve with bottle age. — 2 years ago