Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

99/100 - Reductive nose, matchstick smokiness with buttery salty popcorn aromas, so distinct and clear. Lovely purity with some toasted brioche elements and toasted almonds. So clear and pure, a zingy vibrant acidity that catches you off guard, crystalline doesn't quite explain it, but this is scintillatingly fresh with tension and superb direction. This has a great balance with push and finesse - not too tense or lean, not heavy - a gorgeous filling, generous but gentle power and structure. Leaves a salty, lemon and pineapple touch on the finish that just lasts and lasts! Super sophisticated and just a gorgeous wine from the coolest vintage since 2017. Less heady than the 2021 but there’s no doubting the refinement and precision on offer while being so enjoyable. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

98+/100 - The 2023 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay leads with an abundance of smoky, nutty, savory reduction. Here, the 2023 feels less exotic and softly spoken than the 2022 tasted alongside, with the 2023 showing more tension and focus. Neither has the extraordinary, otherworldly character of the 2021, also tasted alongside, yet the differences between the three is almost as exciting as having three vintages of Giaconda Chardonnay open at the same time. The 2023 only gets better the longer it is opened, revealing white peach, curry leaf, pink grapefruit acidity, blood orange, coffee grounds, graphite and mustard seeds. What a wine. The sheer intensity of flavor here is astonishing—it penetrates the palate and soars long into the memory. Far from pinching the finish, the reduction provokes a physical response, one that requires more drinking to satiate. - Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate