A little patience can do wonders with top-tier Chardonnay, and this stunning Chardonnay is a study in layers of flavour. Headlined by a hint of milk bottle funk and then grapefruit/lemon flavours on a palate that is instantly taut and tight, yet showing wonderful textures of creamy complexity. So much is going on here that it deserves some quiet contemplation to get the gist!

Some wineries are headed by those who seem to have inherited their skills from generations of winemakers. Others get there from raw talent, ambition, and a hell of a lot of hard work. The team behind Yarra Valley’s Fetherston Vintners definitely sit in the latter camp, and their dedication to exploring and experimenting with lesser-known varietals is more than paying off. Fetherston Vintners is run by Chris Lawrence, a former top chef with a serious commitment to flavour, and Camille Koll, who earned her stripes working for Domaine Chandon. Together, their hard-earned knowledge of grape varietals and flavour profiles combines to create something really rather special; a modern, dynamic Yarra Valley winery, unafraid to take risks and stick its neck out to get the results it deserves. If you haven’t yet discovered the fruits of Chris and Camille’s passion project, well... it’s high time you did something about it.