On top scores, chardonnay ranks a very close third behind shiraz and cabernet for the strongest category in Australian wine today. Margaret River again towers above all others, alone putting forth a tremendous showing of more than half of this year’s standouts. Of the balance, the Yarra Valley stands tall, responsible for almost two-thirds.
No surprise that, just like last year, the two wine regions went head-to-head with Penfolds Yattarna in the final taste-off. And just to prove that lightening can strike in the same place twice, Oakridge 864 was also again a contender for top three. To have two of the same three wines come forward in one of the finest and largest classes in successive years, one judged revealed and the other blind, proves that great wines ultimately triumph, regardless of method. On first vote all three scored equally, and on revote, there was just one vote between them, with Stella Bella Luminosa a stunning winner. All three are deserving – don’t miss them.
2023 Best Chardonnay of the Year in Australia
Stella Bella Wines Luminosa Chardonnay 2020, Margaret River
98 points | Price when tasted $70
Wow, this is serious business. Indeed the word glorious immediately springs to mind. Toast, flint, grilled white peach, nougat and lemon curd characters come charging at you, first sip until the last, compellingly, authoritatively. Jumps straight out of the box and once it's out, there's no stopping it. – Campbell Mattinson
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More top-rated chardonnay from the 2024 Companion
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Giaconda
Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Beechworth -
Giant Steps
Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Hoddles Creek Estate
1er Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Landaire at Padthaway Estate
Chardonnay 2021
Padthaway -
Oakridge Wines
864 Single Block Release Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Penfolds
Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2020
Tasmania Adelaide Hills -
Seville Estate
Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Tolpuddle Vineyard
Chardonnay 2021
Tasmania -
Vasse Felix
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Bass Phillip
Premium Old Vines Chardonnay 2021
Gippsland -
Battles Wine
The Burnside Chardonnay 2022
Margaret River -
Bindi Wines
Quartz Chardonnay 2021
Macedon Ranges -
Bird on a Wire Wines
Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
BK Wines
Ma Fleur Chardonnay 2008
Piccadilly Valley -
Cherubino
Cherubino Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Cobaw Ridge
Chardonnay Macedon Ranges 2021
Macedon Ranges -
Coldstream Hills
Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Cullen Wines
Kevin John Wilyabrup 2021
Margaret River -
Deep Woods Estate
Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Delamere Vineyards
Block 3 Chardonnay 2021
Tasmania -
Denton
Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Dirty Three Wines
All The Dirts Chardonnay 2022
Gippsland -
Domaine Naturaliste
Purus Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Dominique Portet
Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Geoff Weaver
Aged Release Chardonnay 2013
Lenswood -
Giant Steps
Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Gilbert Family Wines
gilbert Museum Release Chardonnay 2016
Orange -
Grosset
Piccadilly Chardonnay 2021
Adelaide Hills -
Helen's Hill Estate
Breachley Block Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Juniper
Cornerstone Wilyabrup Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Leeuwin Estate
Art Series Chardonnay 2020
Margaret River -
Leeuwin Estate
Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Leogate Estate Wines
Museum Release Creek Bed Reserve Chardonnay 2013
Hunter Valley -
Lowestoft
La Meilleure Chardonnay 2021
Tasmania -
Mayer
Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Medhurst
Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Mount Terrible
Jamieson Chardonnay 2022
Central Victoria Zone -
Oakridge Wines
Vineyard Series Willowlake Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Patrick Sullivan Wines
Ada River Chardonnay 2022
Gippsland -
Penfolds
Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2021
Adelaide Hills -
Scotchmans Hill
Cornelius Sutton Vineyard Bellarine Peninsula Chardonnay 2020
Geelong -
Shaw + Smith
M3 Chardonnay 2021
Adelaide Hills -
Sidewood Estate
Owen's Chardonnay 2021
Adelaide Hills -
Stella Bella Wines
Luminosa Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Tapanappa
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Piccadilly Valley -
Toolangi
F Block Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Tyrrell’s Wines
HVD Chardonnay 2022
Hunter Valley -
Tyrrell’s Wines
Single Vineyard Belford Chardonnay 2021
Hunter Valley -
Wantirna Estate
Isabella Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Whispering Brook
Vintage Release Limited Release Chardonnay 2017
Hunter Valley -
Windows Estate
Petit Lot Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Xanadu Wines
Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Xanadu Wines
Stevens Road Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Yarra Yering
Carrodus Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley
The 2023 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here – and at all good bookstores.
Learn more about chardonnay in our essential guide.
*This is an edited extract from the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Ned Goodwin MW, James Halliday, Erin Larkin, Jeni Port, Philip Rich and chief editor Tyson Stelzer.