Oakey Vineyard Chardonnay 2025 ($66) – Chardonnay from the Oakey Creek Vineyard, pressed as whole bunches into French oak barrels for native yeast fermentation. 36% new oak. While the 2025 vintage might have been condensed, it is looking like a very good one.
Pale lemon/yellow, this is an intense yet balanced and elegant style of Chardonnay which is most impressive. Gentle oak integration is evident, but to be honest I would not pick this as a Hunter Valley Chardonnay. It just seems too good (with apologies to some of the truly excellent Chardies the region can offer). We have notes of stonefruits, florals, peaches, citrus and nectarines. The wine is balanced and focused and the palate sees the emergence of sea breeze notes and grapefruit. Excellent length here, it should drink impressively over the next six to ten years and during that period, one could reasonably expect the score to perhaps climb a smidge higher. 94.