Two-thousand and eight was very good to the Chardonnay grape, imparting good acidity, and fine fruit flavours; with a deft hand and proper use of oak the end result was exquisite wine. This Peller ‘sur lie’ version was both barrel fermented and 12-month aged in oak, resulting in peach pit and butterscotch on the nose, a palate rich in vanilla, butterscotch and toffee with a smooth creamy sensation across the tongue, due to the partial malolactic fermentation this wine has gone through; while the sweet flavours come from the 40% new French oak the wine was aged in. Price: $30 – Rating: ****