Paringa Estate’s The Paringa Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2024 scores 97 points from Tyson Stelzer in WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
Paringa’s ultimate Chardonnay is sourced from just nine rows of vines of almost 40 years of age on its home vineyard.
Stelzer and Mike Bennie independently review 50 wines each for WBM.
Highlights of their reviews for the July/August 2026 edition…
Paringa Estate The Paringa Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2024
97 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Paringa’s ultimate Chardonnay is sourced from just nine rows of vines of almost 40 years of age on its home vineyard. I love the way the 2024 season epitomises the power and complexity of the Mornington while sustaining a dynamic backbone of acid line and crystalline, mineral texture. The dynamic of energetic endurance juxtaposing profound power and persistence of grand cru proportions makes for tremendous longevity. The trio of 22-23-24 are among the finest in the nation.” 13.5%. $80.
Hex Wine Co Adelaide Hills Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024
92 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Ash and Abby Barratt’s brand new label has hit the ground running, built on a decade of grapegrowing in Kenton Valley in the Adelaide Hills. Their inaugural Chardonnay presents impressive elegance and tension, crafted on a core of energetic lemon and white peach fruit, supported by nutty French oak. It promises great things in a few years’ time.” 12.0%. $35.
Grosset Gaia Clare Valley 2024
92 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The 35th release from this now 40-year-old vineyard leaps from the glass with all the fragrant, floral, leafy allure of the cool 2024 season, its perfume enlivened with 16 percent Cabernet Franc. A core of classic, crunchy blackcurrant is well supported by intricate, fine-grained, perfectly ripe tannins and vibrant acid structure, characteristic of this exposed site. I love the detail and confidence of its mineral texture, a profound declaration of its ancient, bony, red rock geology.” 13.8%. $108.
First Drop Wines ‘Dos Por Ciento’ (2%) Shiraz Moscatel 2021
94 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A delightfully left-field combo of varieties with the Moscatel doing perfume and florals to Shiraz forest berries and sweet spice. It kicks off with jasmine and choc-liquorice perfume, lands on blackberry and Turkish delight, slips into plush, silky texture with easy flow. Equal parts playful and serious, with vivacity carrying the wine overall.” 15.0%. $50.
First Drop Wines Mother’s Milk Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “Mother’s Milk indeed. This is popular stuff, or so it feels; heartland stuff too. Rich, round, smooth, generous. Blackcurrants, jubey mulberry, black pepper, choc-liquorice and lifted minty freshness. Such an easygoing red and offers up plenty of lip-smacking concentration and depth. A shiny regional red.” 14.5%. $28.
First Drop Wines Suave Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Touriga 2024
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “An easygoing, off-beat blend that leans into drinkability and freshness. Lays up with bold, ripe raspberry, red plum and peppery and herbal spices. Fine, swishy tannins lend a hand, and lively, blood orange acidity makes for freshness. It’s a bold wine in its way but doesn’t sacrifice ease of drinking.” 13.5%. $30.
Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2024
97 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The coiled restraint of Yattarna is particularly compelling in 2024 and I love the tension and elegance that this blend embodies. White citrus is the theme, touched by eloquent struck flint reduction and perfectly integrated oak. I admire its calm confidence, its slowly rising, commanding presence that builds but never looms, and most of all its seamless hovering line and exceptional length. This is a Yattarna for the long game.” 12.5%. $220.
Main Ridge Estate Mornington Peninsula Old Vine Chardonnay 2025
96 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A distinct marriage of power and vibrancy. It’s a heady perfume of rich stone fruits, cinnamon, nougat, ginger snap biscuits, sea spray and lemon blossom, the palate delivering similar in a concentrated but very bright way. Excellent slip and glide to texture, a lengthy, spicy and minerally finish twists away. The essence is that this is seriously elegant. No doubt.” 13.0%. $100.
Purple Hands Wines Planta Circa Barossa Valley Ancestor Vine Shiraz 2024
96 points
Mike Bennie writes, “All the intensity, all the concentration. A bold and riper styled Shiraz but seems to pack all the chunky dark fruit, woody spices, grumbly, sweet earthiness into smoothness and exceptional length of flavour. The perfume is enticing, a wild array of exotic spice meets ripe plum and dark chocolate. All of this adds up well, and finely.” 14.5%. $175.
Shaw + Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2023
96 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “I love the way the cool 2023 season draws out detail, lift and texture, without in any way compromising character, concentration or depth. The result is a textbook Adelaide Hills Shiraz that brims with black pepper, nuanced with incense and set to a core of satsuma plum, black cherry and blackberry of impressive definition. Bright acidity and an intricate framework of brittle, fine-grained tannins make this a benchmark vintage for the long haul.” 13.5%. $59.
Dal Zotto Wines Lacrimae di Giove Tears of Jove King Valley Sangiovese 2024
94 points
Mike Bennie writes, “This is a finely wrought Sangiovese, deeply imbued with varietal character almost as if off a check list – red cherry, woody spices, dark chocolate, turned earth, blood orange freshness. It sits at medium weight but has significant presence, tannins ripple with authority, the finish lavished with spice. A terrific drink.” 13.0%. $51.
Mecklen Old Vine Barossa Valley Grenache 2024
94 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “From 103-year-old dry-grown vines in the Cockatoo Valley, this is a magnificent Barossa Grenache at a bargain price. All the depth and complexity of old vines are beautifully highlighted with brightness and detail in the cool 2024 season. Supple, silky tannins, like only grand old vines can contrive, weave a long and delicious finish.” 14.3%. $35.
Ten Minuets By Tractor Mornington Peninsula Estate Chardonnay 2025
94 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “A blend of five estate vineyards in Main Ridge, this is a beautifully composed Chardonnay that carries poise and elegance that belie its warm and dry season. Pure white peach and lemon are the themes backed with eloquent, judicious French oak (21 percent new) and energised by glittering natural acidity, thanks to minimal malolactic fermentation. The result is seamless and delicious.” 13.0%. $58.
Capital The Ambassador Tempranillo 2024
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “Tempranillo makes its mark with distinct cola and dark cherry characters, a dusting of sweet spice, cinnamon and clove savouriness, a touch of dark chocolate cocoa powder in there too. Quite plush in texture with a grippy run of earthy tannin that does good for a bit of shape and freshness. Good character here.” 12.8%. $32.
Cooks Lot Handpicked Chardonnay 2025
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, There’s no reinventing the wheel here, but the cool climate credentials do stand out, the wine tightly wound, minerally, refreshing and pure feeling with a strong sense of restraint and purity. Citrus fruits, citrus blossom, green apple crispness and a touch of pineapple and ginger. It’s neat, tidy, well done stuff here.” 13.0%. $35.
Dal Zotto Wines King Valley Sangiovese 2024
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “An easy access Sangiovese, juicy with a cinch of dusty tannin, dark cherry, sandalwood notes, pepper, some panforte choc-nut action. It’s got a nice slosh to texture, a bite of maraschino sweetness and bitterness. Delightful drinking, distinct character. Could go one chilled.” 13.5%. $30.
Longview Vineyard Devil’s Elbow Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
93 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Longview’s oldest vineyard enjoys a 45-degree, north-facing aspect, yielding a particularly enduring Cabernet in the mild 2023 season. Unashamedly medium bodied, an intense core of signature cassis and blackcurrant is framed in a strong mesh of fine-grained tannins and bright Adelaide Hills acidity that will sustain it long and strong.” 13.5%. $32.
Purple Soul Muses Adelaide Hills Collection Chardonnay 2025
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A very neat and tidy expression of Chardonnay, cool in its reflection of tropical fruits, bright with chirpy citrusy freshness, a little maritime breeziness and saline minerality, a twist of cinnamon spice for good measure. It feels even, flows well, lands with great vitality. Easy drinking personified.” 13.0%. $30.
Purple Soul Muses McLaren Vale Collection Shiraz 2025
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A deep, rich and warming red from McLaren Vale’s heartland playbook. Dark choc-cherry, raspberry, roast red capsicum, chicory and woody spices abound. It sits full and lush in the palate, opulent and velvety, finishing with a lavish array of sweet and spicy flavours. At the bolder end of the spectrum, with balance.” 14.5%. $30.
Welland Barossa Valley & Valley Shiraz 2024
93 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “A blend of Barossa and Eden Valleys, this is a well-crafted Shiraz that captures the bright freshness and detail of the impressive and cool 2024 harvest. AP John American oak is well deployed to support fine-grained tannins and dark chocolate oak complexity. It’s delicious now and will hold for the medium term.” 14.5%. $30.
Dandelion Vineyards Menagerie of the Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2023
92 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “From a field blend off Seppeltsfield Road with all the exotic spice and textural allure of whole bunch fermentation, this is a juicy and fruity blend that captures the friendly appeal of Barossa GSM. Fine tannins and bright acidity complete a finish more distinguished than its price would anticipate.” 14.0%. $30.
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