Soumah, Hexham Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

An unusual lower alcohol ( 12.7% ) Chardonnay. On nose: oak, vanilla and hazlenut skins. On palate: all above flavours acconted for, as well as lemon peel , a ghost of dandelion , a softening note of malolactic,and a tart finish of gunflint and smoke ....good oyster and shellfish wine....lean and sleek.

NobleRottersSydney - Yarra Valley (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney) : {screwcap, 12.7%} [Sian - guest] Classy, youthful notes; plenty of French oak, nuts, cashews, but also a sulphury note. The palate is dry, adds vanilla to the cool climate chardonnay flavours, still frames the oak, but also offers a malo-driven softness. The oak tends to grow on the palate, giving the wine a medium/full-bodied aspect, but the finish is no more than medium length. Decent crowd-pleaser for the short term.