Australian wines dominated the London Wine Fair’s third annual Icon Tasting, claiming the top two spots in a blind judging of 27 premium Chardonnays. The highest honor went to Tolpuddle Vineyard’s 2023 Chardonnay from Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, followed closely by Vasse Felix’s 2020 Heytesbury Chardonnay from Margaret River, Western Australia. Additionally, Shaw & Smith’s 2021 M3 Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills secured both seventh place and third in the "Best Value" category.
This prestigious event serves as a benchmark for assessing elite Chardonnay wines from both traditional and emerging regions. The judging was structured into two flights, aiming to highlight the best of Chardonnay around the globe. The wines were meticulously chosen by a panel, led by Hannah Tovey, head of the LWF, and overseen by Ronan Sayburn MS, a co-chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards, and Sarah Abbott MW, a wine marketing consultant.
During the tasting, the panel, consisting of 18 judges including one Master Sommelier and eleven Masters of Wine, assessed the wines based on several criteria such as style, terroir, winemaking technique, and oak aging. Sayburn noted that the results illustrate contemporary preferences for Chardonnay rather than providing a definitive ranking of the world’s best.
Abbott emphasized that fine Chardonnay transcends geographical boundaries, showcasing the grape’s remarkable versatility. The results were evenly split between European and non-European regions, underscoring Chardonnay’s global appeal.
Top 10 Wines
- Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay, Coal River Valley, Tasmania, Australia 2023
- Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 2020
- Danbury Ridge, Octagon Block Chardonnay, Crouch Valley, Essex, England 2023
- Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France 2013
- Domaine Henri Boillot, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Burgundy, France 2022
- Bell Hill, Limeworks, North Canterbury, New Zealand 2020
- Shaw & Smith, M3, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2021
- Felton Road, Chardonnay, Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand 2021
- Antinori, Cervaro, Castello della Sala, Umbria, Italy 2023
- Domaine Donatsch, Unique Chardonnay, Malans, Graubünden, Switzerland 2024
Best Value Wines
- Familia Deicas, Preludio Barrel Select Lote No 29, Juanicó, Canelones, Uruguay 2020
- Ataraxia, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, South Africa 2024
- Shaw & Smith, M3, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2021
- Storm, Ridge Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, South Africa 2024
- Viña Aquitania, Sol de Sol Chardonnay, Traiguén, Valle de Malleco, Chile 2024
Overall, the results of this tasting reinforces the exceptional quality of Chardonnay globally, leading the way in celebrations of fine wine. The demand for diverse expressions of this versatile grape continues to flourish among wine enthusiasts and experts alike.