Yesterday I held a tasting of chardonnays from a number of the most highly rated makers in Australia. It showed without doubt that when our finest producers go about their work with clarity and dedication that our very best are indeed worthy of a place amongst the world’s elite. However, the tasting led to an uncomfortable realisation that the number of Australian chardonnay makers who fully understand what is needed to be amongst the very best is not particularly large. I’ll be publishing detailed commentary on this topic shortly, with detailed tasting notes of all the wines. I’ll then be staging an online ticketed (free) seminar on the subject moderated by Tom Massey of the Cellar Door Podcast. All of this will mark the first in a series of such tastings, analysis and discussion called Oliver’s Winescape. I’ll keep you posted.