2024 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Chardonnay

Yarra Valley Chardonnay that is all about purity, freshness and balance. Mac Forbes is simply a master of fine-boned Chardonnay.

Price:
Sale price$35.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

Mac Forbes has long championed a style of Chardonnay that puts vineyard and season first, and this regional release is the entry point to his approach. Sourced from multiple Yarra Valley sites, it’s designed to give a clear read on the year rather than any single vineyard voice.

The 2024 growing season was on the cooler side with smaller yields, but a warm February ensured the fruit came in with good ripeness and plenty of natural acidity. Winemaking is deliberately restrained – handpicking, wild ferments and older oak – enough to add shape without weighing the wine down.

It's a brisk and focused style of Chardonnay, acidity pulling it long, oak tucked neatly out of the way but adding subtle texture. Always a leaner style of Chardonnay from Mac, but always delicious!

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
25%
(1)
25%
(1)
50%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
G
Geoffrey M.
I liked it

.

S
Sienna k.
ok

It wasn't as good as previous years

J
Jessica C.
Max Forbes Chardonnay

Great crisp wine

G
George
OK not great

I was expecting more from this. It wasn't a bad drop, but I guess my expectations were inflated given reviews from both critics and the general public.

This was my first order from Different Drop. I was very impressed with the online process and the logistics/packaging. The service feels very premium, unlike the wine I ordered. Not to worry, the search for my perfect drop continues and I'll be ordering through DD again.

The Yarra Valley label is the regional overview of our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. ‘Yarra Valley’ is a blend of declassified barrels from our grower vineyards and
the Mac Forbes single vineyard sites. They represent a snapshot from across the valley and our vineyards. Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity.

TASTING NOTE

The nose is an exotic mix of wet stones, quince, yellow melon and grapefruit. It's accompanied by subtle crushed herbs and lees, creating a pristine aroma.

The palate offers a lovely, inviting experience with expanding texture, fruit density, and a caressing line of acid. As the wine stretches across the palate, notes of melon and ripe citrus expand, while the acid threads its way to the back palate.

This wine is expected to continue improving for 5-8 years.

We recommend serving this wine between 12-14 degrees.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

A challenging season with extreme rainfall during winter and spring. Poor flowering conditions has meant another year of reduced yields, but depth and concentration
of flavour are all the better for it. Long slow ripening over the summer gave us a late start to the harvest, with wonderful fruit detail and depth. Quite a revelation from such a challenging season.

VINEYARD

The Yarra Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from grower vineyards and properties that we farm across both the upper Yarra and Valley floor.

WINEMAKING

Fruit: Destemmed and crushed before pressing

Fermentation: Old barriques on fine solids

Maturation: 11 months in old large and small format oak

Yeast: Wild

Fining: None

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Yarra Valley
Australian State VIC
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Mac Forbes

If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.

Mac specialises in single vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.

His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, the Chardonnays are adored by lovers of fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice, and his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are among the country's most interesting. Additionally, his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure trove for the curious drinker.

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.

What that means for you:

- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate

Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.

**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Regular Enquiries

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775