Mon Tout Heydays Chardonnay 2024

This is a sticky, sappy, voluptuous, old-school Chardonnay, with fruit from the Forest View Vineyard in Pemberton. I would like to note that Pemberton has a cool climate. This vineyard also produces grapes for sparkling wine, which makes the style – big, delicious and fully malolactic – surprising. Lemon balm, spice and popcorn. It’s indulgent and scrumptious. The Melbourne Bitter of Chardonnays, I am told. In the mouth, it’s yellow and dense, with salty pomelo and stone fruit. It makes me want roast-beer-can-chicken and to get slightly drunk with some crazy Aunt. The concentration and fruit quality shine, and the winery work is obvious, but it never falls out of balance. If you like big Chardonnay, this is a great example. Especially for the price.

Cyndal Petty

Wine Critic at Winepilot

A hopeless romantic for wine and food, Cyndal is nearing 15 years in hospitality while still (just) under 30. A Chef-turned-Sommelier and award-winning wine professional, Cyndal recently left a Group Sommelier role where she curated seven wine lists across multiple venues and led the wine team to Gourmet Traveller Wine Bar of the Year—just months after opening. Now freelance, Cyndal is a wine consultant, event host, wine judge, and wine writer. Passionate about sharing wine’s story with the world, she brings a fresh voice and creative solutions to the industry. After studying and traveling through most of her 20s, she’s now based in WA’s southwest, proudly embracing her role as a WA coastal cowgirl.

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