Fonty's Pool 2004 Pemberton Chardonnay and Henschke 2001 Tilly's Vineyard
Fonty's Pool 2004 Pemberton Chardonnay. 13.5 per cent, €14.99
This hasn't quite the aplomb of those on Langton's list, but the esteemed Australian wine writer James Halliday got a kick out of the 2003 Chardonnay - "elegant melon, nectarine and a touch of grapefruit on the palate" - and, indeed, the whole Fonty's Pool output. I couldn't agree more. The 2004 is a well-balanced, fruit-filled wine with restrained use of oak and a tangy kick. This is a classy wine even with its screw-top bottle. From O'Briens.
Henschke 2001 Tilly's Vineyard, 13 per cent, €15.99
Unlike its illustrious stablemate, the celebrated Hill of Grace, this is a more humble offering from Henschke, though complex and interesting in its own right. It is a Barossa blend of mainly Semillon, with about 20 per cent Chardonnay and 5-10 per cent Sauvignon Blanc; on the nose the fruit flavours struggle to break through the oak. But it is full in the mouth with zingy mineral intensity and a long, soft finish. Available from O'Briens.