White wine drinkers seem to fall into two camps – those who love Chardonnay and those who don’t. Anyone reading my columns knows that I fall very firmly into the former category. I truly believe that anyone who doesn’t love this noblest of varieties hasn’t tasted a good one.
Chardonnay is one of the most versatile varieties. It comes in so many different styles, not merely oaked or unoaked, but rather in a broad range of expressions from crisp and mineral-driven to luxuriously rich and everything in between.
Versatile with food
It pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes, but more than that, a good Chardonnay just makes everything in the world feel right.
Given my take on it, you’ll understand how much pleasure I got from tasting the latest releases from Marnong Estate, a Victorian winery which we’ve previously written about here.
Included in the line-up is the winery’s first-ever Reserve Chardonnay, alongside two further expressions of Chardonnay, a Single Vineyard one and an Estate one. It’s a great opportunity to taste how different one variety can be, even when it comes from one Estate.
Just 35 minutes north of Melbourne and only around 15 minutes from Melbourne Airport, Marnong Estate is an all-round visitor experience with luxury accommodation overlooking the vines, a cellar door and restaurant, and a working farm with roaming Angus cattle and alpacas.
Located in Sunbury, one of Victoria’s oldest wine districts, the property has sweeping views of the Macedon Ranges. It specialises in cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, alongside a range of Italian varieties. With cooling winds and mineral-rich soils, the Sunbury terroir brings a refreshing vibrancy and complexity to the wines.
Three ranges to choose from
The wines are produced across three ranges – from the very approachable Estate range to the refined Single Vineyard collection, through to luxurious Reserve options – showcasing the diversity and character of the vineyards and ensuring a style for every occasion.
The 2024 Reserve Chardonnay sits at the pinnacle of the new collection, crafted only in exceptional years from individual selections of the Estate’s best Chardonnay parcels and barrels.
Rounding out the collection is the inaugural Sangiovese Rosé, the first vintage of Marnong Estate’s Sangiovese fruit crafted specifically for Rosé.
The Estate’s Director of Wine, Alex Beckett, says the release of the Reserve Chardonnay is an exciting milestone for Marnong.
“Chardonnay is such an important part of what we’re doing,” he says. “The Reserve is a wine we only make when we believe the vintage and the fruit have the quality to warrant that level of selection.
“Alongside the Single Vineyard and Estate Chardonnays, it also gives us the opportunity to show the different expressions of the same variety across our vineyards. The Sangiovese Rosé brings something a little different again, with its vibrant fruit, savoury character and Italian varietal heritage making it particularly well suited to spring and summer entertaining.”
Marnong Estate 2024 Estate Chardonnay, $28: The new releases include the 2025 vintage of the Estate Chardonnay but we were sent the 2024 vintage for tasting. It’s a bright, medium-bodied wine that pairs easily with seafood, salads, roast chicken and all the other lighter dishes that grace our table in summer. With a touch of minerality, it has lemon, spice and nutty notes that complement these dishes nicely.
Marnong Estate 2025 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, $43: With more complexity than the Estate Chardonnay, this is most certainly a step up. More lemon curd than lemon, it is buttery with brioche and spicy aromatics. The fruit comes from Marnong’s Weatherstone vineyard, the Estate’s most elevated vineyard, so there’s some flintiness and a soft creamy palate.
Marnong Estate 2024 Reserve Chardonnay, $70: Although boasting complexity and layers of flavours, this is a lovely pristine wine with a restrained palate of pear and apple. There’s a hint of lemon on the nose and an intense toastiness, making it suited to richer seafood dishes. I’d love to see this wine down the track to see how it fares. I feel it will age well.
Marnong Estate 2026 Estate Sangiovese Rosé, $28: Pure summer in a bottle. Light-bodied, dry and savoury, it is bursting with raspberry and strawberry aromas, followed by the flavours of summer: berries and cherries. Perfect for alfresco occasions, Italian antipasti, creamy cheeses, and grilled vegetables.
Marnong Estate 2025 Estate Pinot Noir, $28: We’re including two reds here that were released earlier in the year. Because not everyone wants a white, right? This easy-drinking Pinot translates easily to spring dining, being light-bodied with nice silky tannins. With a little bit of smokiness and enticing raspberry notes, it would go nicely with antipasti, mushroom dishes and quail.
Marnong Estate 2025 Single Vineyard Sangiovese, $37: Marnong is making great strides with Sangiovese, and this one is impressive, being vibrant with fresh acidity yet boasting assertive tannins and a medium-bodied elegance.
Marnong Estate wines are available nationally from independent retailers, at the Marnong Estate cellar door, and online via the Marnong Estate website.
We’ve previously written here about the accommodation and the wine tastings that can be enjoyed at the cellar door. The Estate regularly hosts special experiences, meaning there’s always something new to discover.
