Elephant in the Room Jumbo Chardonnay 2025
Limestone Coast, Australia • 13.5%
What I tell my friends
It's a big, rounded Chardonnay from South Australia. Ripe peach and melon, a touch of vanilla, and the oak is nicely integrated rather than sitting on top of the fruit. Creamy and smooth. When summer's done and you want something properly flavoursome, this hits the spot. Great with roast chicken.
What I tell wine geeks
Limestone Coast Chardonnay from the Robe district, made by Corey Ryan for Fourth Wave Wine. High solids, oxidative handling, about 40% aged six months in medium toast second and third fill French barriques with lees stirring. Ripe stone fruit and melon on the nose with vanilla and a subtle toasted note, the oak well integrated rather than overt. Full bodied and creamy on the palate, freshened by decent natural acidity. It's not aiming for Burgundy, it's aiming for generosity, and it delivers that convincingly at the price.
Verdict
Summer's over, the nights are drawing in, and for eight quid this is exactly the kind of rounded, generous Chardonnay you want in your glass.