Harewood Estate Apricus Hill Chardonnay 2023

Top-shelf chardonnay from the West. Maybe it’s the vintage or the winemaking, but the ’23 offers a finer specimen of a Chardonnay than the previous release I tasted. Note to winemaker: keep it going! There’s a lemon theme happening here from the lemon bright hues through to the summery scents of lemon, grapefruit zest, white peach and nectarine. A seamless entry of fruit on the palate, full of character with a distinctive thread of nougat and almond and grilled nuts. Crisp, assertive, and featuring an undercurrent of light texture, it finishes with good length and balance. Can take some further time in bottle, too.