Barry Weinman – May 2026

In a very strong line-up of chardonnays, Cullen Wines’ 2025 Kevin John and Hardys’ 2023 Eileen Hardy stood out for both their absolute quality and their contrasting styles.

And it has been several years since any of the panel had encountered St Hallett’s Old Block Shiraz, with unanimous praise for the 2019. The depth of the old-vine fruit that goes into this wine is very impressive.

It should be noted that 2019 appears to be the current release, with the winery’s website listing older vintages for sale.

Battles — The Burnside — Chardonnay — 2025
A lovely start to the tasting. Ripe, yet restrained; textured and viscous, yet light and airy on the palate. This really is a very good wine. The length and persistence of flavour are a highlight. Sublime. I would like to see this over a few days, as it is seamless, but also quite closed. Pretty floral notes and minerality leave a lingering impression. 13.3% alc | 94pts | $90

Hardys — Eileen Hardy — Chardonnay — 2023
A different style, but a wine of great quality. Here, the fruit ripeness is a touch more overt, with pineapple and stone fruit aromas swirling around the glass. The palate is rich and carries obvious fruit weight, yet it remains lithe and fresh along the entire length of the palate. Despite the power, the palate transition remains seamless. The intensity here is really next level. An amazing wine. 13.5% alc | 96pts | $150

Cullen — Kevin John — Chardonnay — 2025
Here is a wine so subtle that it almost defies description. Yet it has great presence and viscosity that is next level for a wine this fine and elegant. But the true magic happened once it sat in the glass for 15 minutes. The fruit continued to build and build, making for a spectacular wine. Expensive? Yep. But worth it. 13.5% alc | 97pts

St Hallett — Old Block — Shiraz — 2019
Oh my, this is in a different league. There is so much more intensity to the fruit, and the quality of the winemaking inputs is exemplary. The way the tannins have been polished is quite extraordinary, allowing the fruit to take centre stage while still providing all the textural cues you could hope for in a Barossa shiraz. Coffee, chocolate and plum notes all come to mind, with a hint of forest-floor savouriness. Despite the obvious ripeness in the fruit, this remains remarkably elegant and refined. Lovely now or in 20 years. The sheer depth of this wine saw me elevate the points in the end. Whilst the recommended retail price is $160, this is being heavily discounted around the traps and represents good value. 14.5% alc | 96pts | $160