2020 Mount Mary Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2020 Mount Mary Vineyard Chardonnay has been among Australia's absolute elite for decades and is regarded worldwide as one of the most refined Chardonnays of the Southern Hemisphere. From the cool Yarra Valley, Mount Mary produces a wine that can effortlessly rival the great white Burgundies. The 2020 vintage convincingly confirms that reputation. Wine Advocate awarded the wine 96 points , with Erin Larkin particularly praising the seamless balance, silky texture, and exceptional harmony. James Suckling awarded 95 points and commends the impressive layering, refined brioche notes, and fresh, energetic finish. A world-class Chardonnay with impressive aging potential.

Mount Mary Vineyard

Mount Mary Vineyard was founded in 1971 by John and Marli Middleton, who drew inspiration from the great wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux. Their ambition was to produce elegant, terroir-driven wines in which balance and finesse are more important than power and overripe fruit. The family estate is now led by the second generation of Middletons and is one of Australia's most prestigious wineries.

The vineyards are located in the Yarra Valley, one of the coolest and most renowned wine regions in Australia. Thanks to the temperate climate and the long ripening period, the grapes develop exceptional aromatic complexity, vibrant freshness, and a natural elegance that is characteristic of the Mount Mary style.

For more information about Mount Mary Vineyard, please refer to the Winery tab.

The vineyard

The Chardonnay comes from carefully selected plots on the estate itself. Four different Chardonnay clones are used for this wine, which together provide extra depth, tension, and aromatic complexity. The combination of well-draining soils, a cool growing season, and low yields results in grapes of exceptional quality year after year.

Vinification

All grapes are harvested by hand. Approximately twenty percent of the bunches are pressed as whole bunches, while the remaining grapes are lightly crushed and destemmed before pressing. Fermentation takes place in French oak barriques, after which the wine ages for eleven months on the fine lees in French oak, approximately thirty percent of which is new. This refined aging imparts extra texture and complexity without overpowering the pure fruit.

Scent, taste and character

On the nose, the wine immediately displays its class with aromas of white peach, ripe apple, pineapple, and citrus, followed by flint, white flowers, roasted hazelnuts, brioche, and freshly baked croissant. The subtle oak influence is fully integrated and supports the aromatic depth without being dominant.

The taste is rich and layered, yet at the same time remarkably refined. Ripe stone fruit, citrus, and tropical fruit are supported by a beautiful freshness and a silky texture. The wine possesses an impressive tension, with every sip revealing new nuances of brioche, buttery croissant, minerality, and refined oak notes.

It is precisely this exceptional harmony that makes the wine so special. Erin Larkin of Wine Advocate (96 points) calls the seamless integration of fruit, structure, and phenols one of the great qualities of this vintage and particularly emphasizes the youthful energy which, in her view, guarantees a very long lifespan. James Suckling (95 points) praises the complex layers of pineapple, apple, flint, brioche, and buttery croissant and speaks of a Chardonnay that possesses both power and finesse.

The finish is exceptionally long, mineral, and refined. The perfect balance between ripe fruit, lively acidity, and subtle oak influences ensures that the wine continues to resonate for minutes.

Storage potential

Although the 2020 already offers great drinking pleasure, this is a Chardonnay that only gains in complexity with bottle aging. The wine develops beautifully between 2022 and 2037 and will develop additional aromas of honey, roasted nuts, brioche, and flint over the years, while retaining its characteristic freshness.

Drinking window and food and wine pairings

Preferably serve the wine at 11 to 12°C.

A magnificent accompaniment to lobster, scallops, turbot, sole, langoustines, veal, poultry with creamy sauces, truffle risotto, or aged cheeses such as Comté and Beaufort.