Wine Pick: Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2014

Not to be forgotten on your holiday wine list: a delicious (and reasonably priced) chardonnay

We are in full entertaining swing now, the holiday season joyfully upon us. Don’t leave the wine shopping to the last minute, unless you love the conviviality of a long lineup at your favourite wine shop. On your list should be a bold, gorgeously oaked chardonnay that will rise to the challenge of turkey, ham, or oysters. You’ll be as delighted as our Wine Awards judges were to taste this restrained and perfectly priced chardonnay from Australia. Yes, it’s from big-brand Wolf Blass, but from the very particular Gold Label series. Pure, lively and balanced, it’s emblematic of the new breed of chardonnay from Oz and is built to uplift and complement food.The only repeat category winner this year, our rich white winner is a celebration of consistency. The gold label series is special, focusing entirely on wines that express place and grape. High-altitude Adelaide Hills fruit gives this sleek oaked chardonnay impressive concentration and tensile strength. Flinty like good white Burgundy, with a thick spread of lemon curd and crèmebrulée favours, kept fresh and crispy with succulent acidity. This vintage saw very low yields with tremendous concentration, lending extra richness.Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2014France$22.99