Oates End Chardonnay 2023 from Wilyabrup in Margaret River is a beautifully judged modern chardonnay – bright, coastal and finely handled in the winery, showing you just how classy this region can be when fruit purity and winemaking craft are perfectly in balance. It feels like a deceptively serious white that still drinks with effortless ease.

In the glass, Oates End Chardonnay 2023 offers subtle white nectarine and grapefruit on the nose, with lemon, pineapple and a briney, sea‑spray edge flowing through the palate. Soft, well‑gauged acidity lifts those flavours, while vanilla toast, cashew‑like creaminess and a gentle butterscotch note from French oak and lees work add texture and depth without overwhelming the fruit. The result is a medium‑bodied, layered chardonnay with real drive and a long, savoury, lightly creamy finish.

Food‑wise, this Oates End Chardonnay 2023 is magic with richer seafood – think butter‑poached lobster, scallops or salmon – as well as roast chicken, pork with crackling and dishes carrying nuts or creamy sauces where that stone‑fruit and citrus profile really cuts through. It will also sit comfortably alongside soft cheeses and more refined bistro‑style plates, and has the structure to reward a few years in the cellar, gaining extra honeycomb and spice complexity over time.