2017 Yering Station Chardonnay Yarra Valley Australia 750 ml

It’s hard to overstate how much the enthusiasm of our members makes our jobs easier.

The pioneering Australian winery Yering Station has a rabid fanbase Down Under, so their wines rarely make their way to US shores. However, we’ve been able to slowly build a relationship over the years, thanks to sell-out after sell-out and scores of glowing member-reviews. 

On release, the 94-point 2017 Yering Station Chardonnay was one of the best values out there in Chardonnay. Now that we’re five years along, it’s opened up even further—cashing in on the “obvious development potential” that influential Australian critic James Halliday noted in his original review. 

With the barest hint of oak, beautiful aromas, and the perfect blend of ripe fruit mixed with stony minerality, this is a standout cellar-defender for lovers of Sonoma Coast or Burgundy whites.

Like the best long-established producers of Burgundy, over time Yering Station’s deep investment in the land has made them capable of releasing both marquee wines and some of Victoria’s finest values. Under winemaker Willy Lunn, a cool-climate specialist and Australian virtuoso, the winery’s been named among the “all-star lineup of Australian producers” by Vinous and landed on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 list.

In the Yarra Valley, temperatures range from the low 50s in winter to high 70s in summer—cooler than Napa, warmer than Burgundy, and pitch-perfect for growing Chardonnay. In 2017, the mercury ticked up just a tad warmer than usual, driving ripeness, while dry weather and cool nights ensured balletic balance. Barrel-fermented for richness and creaminess, with 20% new oak rounding out the sleek, luscious fruit, this a classic modern expression of Chardonnay.