Margaret River is quickly becoming one of the premier regions in all of Australia for producing world-class Chardonnay, and the Evans and Tate “Redbrook Estate” is another stunning example of the huge potential of this remote region. Margaret River juts out into the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by water to the north, west and south, which helps to moderate the Mediterranean climate with cool evening winds. The warm days are ideal for achieving optimal fruit ripeness, which is evident in this wine, with highly concentrated golden apple, quince and greengage plum notes on the nose. Zesty, citrus-driven acidity immediately follows on the palate, however, lifting the dense core of fruit into a very refreshing finish. In many ways, Chardonnays from Margaret River, this one very much included, balance the best of the New World – high density of pure, ripe fruit – with a distinctly Old World approach to structure. And while this is an oaked style of Chardonnay, with noticeable but well-integrated notes of vanilla and nutmeg, they mostly serve to give the wine serious backbone and depth. Some of the most iconic Chardonnays from Australia now hail from Margaret River, with the price tags to match, but the Evans and Tate delivers serious value, punching above its weight class.