2024 Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Chardonnay

96 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion

From a single block of now 30-year-old vines. A bright gold with green tinges. Complex aromas of white nectarine, lemon verbena and a gentle lick of vanilla from the already and nicely integrated oak (20%). It's generous on the palate, to be sure, but there's a fine thread of grapefruit-like acidity on the long, structured finish. A lovely wine that'll age well over the next six to eight years at least.

93 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2024 Paul's Lane Chardonnay is crunchy and lean, with white peach and lemongrass, semi-dried apple and a profusion of nuts. In the mouth, there is a register of baking spices and briney acidity all woven through the fruit. The acidity is pronounced, and yet the fruit has intensity and depth. I love the new label. 13.4% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

91 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

My best friend is called Paul. I’ve known him since I was eight years of age. Blokes tend to make friends for life, though admittedly, I don’t see him nearly as much as I would like, or should. But when we meet, the years fall away and it’s like we’ve not seen each other for at least five minutes. The thing here is make an effort with your dear friends. Time is passing. I just texted Paul now, for a meet next week. Don’t mind me. This has a little stuck match, stone fruit, almost into fresh pineapple, with some cinnamon and ginger spice. It’s a fleshy wine, a bit umami, cheesy and saline, maybe a little diffuse and greasy in texture, also some peanut and glycerol feel, with a slightly brassy finish of good length. Nice wine. Lots of flavour, though maybe lacking a bit of zing.