2025 Moores Hill Chardonnay $45
Fortune favours the brave. When Yarra Valley couple James Oliver and Constance Olivier purchased Moores Hill Estate in the Tamar Valley back in July 2022, it seemed they were intent on throwing caution to the wind.
The vineyard had established a very creditable track record for wine quality during its 25-year history under two previous family ownerships. But Oliver and Olivier had a hunch the site could do even better with targetted re-jigging of some of its plantings and careful adjustments to canopy management.
The couple removed Moores Hill's Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot the following year. They then set about introducing new clonal selections of Pinot Noir and modifying pruning regimes across the property in order to reduce yields per vine and elevate wine quality.
They also brought with them their own way of doing things in the winery.
Sure enough, the new Sidmouth residents struck pay-dirt almost immediately with their first Chardonnay. A product of the very late and cool ripening season of 2023, the wine won gold at the celebrated 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. A couple of silver medals were collected from other wine shows.
Their good fortune is also ours.
This latest release from Moores Hill might well follow in the path of the couple's inaugural gold medal winner. It really is a very elegant and stylish expression of Tamar Valley Chardonnay.
Like its forebear from the 2023 vintage, it has a lovely tight acid structure – despite its 100 percent malolactic fermentation – and its pristine varietal flavours also span the bright citrus and stonefruit spectrum.
A touch of green melon – along with the wine's neatly layered, smooth texture – work wonderfully well together.
Freshness meets palate richness – what's not to like?
The wine's a treat alongside the grazing boards and seafood plates that Oliver and Olivier are able to present visitors at their warm and welcoming vineyard cellar door. A selection of four Tasmanian cheeses served with quality crackers costs $25.
Be sure to point your GPS to 3343 West Tamar Highway, Sidmouth, during the coming summer months. This part of the Tamar Valley is spectacular and you'll find plenty of good wine along the way.
Source: Vineyard cellar door tasting
www.mooreshill.com.au
Last page update: 13 October 2026