2023 Granjoux Chardonnay Reviews
OCTOBER 2025 | BY JANCIS ROBINSON, JANCISROBINSON.COM.
“Full screw capped bottle 1,284 g. From a tiny, very close-planted vineyard (see other Granjoux notes). 2023 was another cool, damp year with budburst very late but not late enough to save the vines from spring frost. So the 1.1-ha vineyard produced a mere 750 kg of Chardonnay grapes. Spontaneous fermentation accordingly took place in a mix of one new 300-litre hogshead and a seasoned 500-litre puncheon. Malolactic conversion was intentionally blocked. After 12 months in barrel, the new-oak component was stirred and transferred to a third-use hogshead, where the entire wine remained on lees for a further four months. The total élevage was 16 months, all in oak.
Somehow the nose seems a little more conventionally Australian than that of the 2022 and 2021 – perhaps because some oak influence is still present? Saline and citrus notes are fighting it out on the palate. It’s still very youthful and may well settle down to bedazzle us. But of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 vintages owner Peter Bartholomew has sent me to taste, the 2022 seems the most complex and satisfying for current drinking.” Drink 2027 - 2035.
Awarded 16++ points.
SEPTEMBER 2025 | BY JENI PORT, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION.
“Not the easiest of vintages – one where quality winegrowing and making stands out. A tightly coiled and thrilling wine to taste, even at this early stage. Granjoux shows a quiet, irresistible intensity that can only build. It's very much early days. Complex scents rise in lime peel, preserved lemon and lemon balm, wildflowers, white peach, Asian pear and almond skin. Linear and fine-edged, the cooler vintage conditions are noted in the taut acidity on show. Middle palate texture builds, and with it a lovely mix of citrus, stone fruits and layers of nutty hazelnut and almond with savoury lemon herbals. Built to last. Give it time.” Drink 2025 - 2035.
Awarded 95+ points.
SEPTEMBER 2025 | BY ERIN LARKIN, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE
"This is the third release of the Granjoux Chardonnay from the walled, clos-like vineyard that looks from the hillside, over the gorge, to the picturesque main street of Beechworth. The 2023 Chardonnay leads with spicy reduction and yellow fruit. Aromatically, it offers layers of scraped vanilla pod, graphite, flint, buckwheat putty, toasted nuts, dried apricots, dried herbs and toasted spices (fennel, caraway and the like). In the mouth, this is powerful and full; the acidity is a little green through the finish, which contributes a green herbal note at the very end of the wine. The wine is savory and intense, with raw, open-weave phenolics and lashings of yellow orchard fruits. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” Drink: 2025 - 2033.
Awarded 94 points.
AUGUST 2025 | BY CAMPBELL MATTINSON, THE WINE FRONT
"It’s a complex style built on a juicy, fruit-filled palate. You take a sip and instantly want to hitch yourself to its ride. White peach and pear flavours bound out of the gate and just keep on going. Flint notes, steel, almond-cream and lemon myrtle characters fly here and there. It’s more-ish. It’s persistent. And it has plenty going on. The deliciousness factor here is very high.” Drink: 2025 - 2032+.
Awarded 94 points.
JUNE 2025 | BY TOM KLINE, JASPER MORRIS, INSIDE BURGUNDY
"This is a real grower in the glass. Bacon fat and cedar make way for lifted tarragon and lavender before fruit notes push through in the form of white peach and dried pineapple with some savoury hazelnut beneath. There's a saline preserved citrus note that emerges with time in the glass adding some attractive bitter and savoury edge. It's a unique aromatic profile given the oak, floral, fruit and nut mix making for an intriguing introduction. The palate feels quite tight and unyielding at this early phase of its life. Lemon juice and pith, hazelnut, just ripe white peach, pineapple husk, hints of tarragon, a glimmer of praline, preserved lime. All of this before some tight chalky phenolics and tangy, zest acidity constrict the mouth and pull it all to remarkably long length. There's a journey to this wine that started with a sense of uncertainty and ended with firm stamp of approval. A unique, confident and supremely exciting. Beechworth Chardonnay expression. Time in cellar will reward." Drink: 2026 – 2038.
Awarded 95 points.