Tasting Profile
April 2026
The nose is lifted and precise, showing grapefruit and lemon citrus layered with white peach and nectarine. Subtle notes of grilled cashew and lightly toasted oak sit in support, adding a subtle savoury edge. The palate is generous yet composed, driven by flavours of ripe citrus and white stone fruit that carry with clarity and persistence. A fine line of acidity provides freshness and focus, while a gentle phenolic grip adds structure and length. The mid-palate shows a soft, rounded texture, leading into a long, vibrant finish defined by fruit intensity and balance.
13.0% alc.
Tasting Profile 2025
Tasting Profile 2024
Tasting Profile 2021
Reviews
Wine Pilot, JUNE 2026
Ken Gargett
The Balnarring vineyard enjoys considerable maritime influence from the Western Port Bay. The vineyard was established in 1997 and the Estate acquired it in 2007. The vineyard has three Chardonnay blocks in it and the fruit here is sourced largely from the oldest block. The fruit is whole bunch pressed into French barriques and puncheons, 20% of which were new. Fermentation took place over the following sixteen days and there was also a partial malolactic fermentation. Maturation was on lees for eleven months.
Very pale lemon in colour, this is tight, taut, pristine and balanced. There is evidence of early complexity, and we see hints of very gentle cashewy oak, along with notes of lemon, soft spices and grapefruit pith. A seriously impressive nose, the wine has excellent balance. Seamless with exceptional length and good intensity throughout, there is a touch of gunflint on the palate. A really good Chardonnay that will provide pleasure for ten years, this is cracking value.
95 points
The WineFront, MAY 2026
Campbell Mattinson
I kept wanting to just settle in and drink this, which is of course never a bad sign.
This is a wine of custard apples and nectarines, nougat and honeysuckle, peach and citrus. It has flow, it has flavour and it has excellent extension. It has a certain softness too, in mouthfeel terms, which despite its underlying tension gives it an impression of calmness. What perhaps impresses the most though, in the context of quality, is the drinkability of this wine. It’s more-ish.
93+ points
The Vintage
The Vineyard
The Port Phillip Estate ‘Balnarring’ vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Balnarring, on Miocene sedimentary soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.