Review

Bellvale Estate Chardonnay 2018
 

Jeni Port

This Year former American Pan Am pilot John Ellis celebrates 21 years at his Bellvale vineyard in South Gippsland. Noted for his pinot noir and Chardonnay, the Ellis winemaking style appears at first restrained but give it time. The 2018 vintage capped what Ellis describes as an almost perfect growing year. The result is delicious. Nectarine, yellow peach, and underlying grapefruit, with a whiff of nougat open on the nose and follow through on the palate with taut Gippsland-style acidity. Open with John Dory with sauce meuniere.
 

Australian Wine Review

Just buy some. The end. John Ellis’ dry-grown Bellvale vineyard in Gippsland can produce some of the most concentrated Chardonnay and Pinot around, and at an incredible price. This nutty, leesy, full- tilt Chardonnay style is concentrated, complex and dense – it’s been to Burgundy and has the t-shirt. Power. Complexity. Sublime value.

Best drinking: now – it’s just going to get fatter in time. 18.5/20, 94/100. 13%, $25. Would I buy it? Absolutely.

Winefront

An estate chardonnay from Bellvale. The yellow flesh of stonefruit, the honeyed tones of oak, ribbons of citrus to tie it all up. A dry chalkiness to the finish almost throws the balance out but style- and flavour-wise this sits in a good place.