2025 The Wanderer Yellingbo Chardonnay

Andrew Marks makes some of the tightest, most energetic Chardonnay in the Yarra and this excellent offering from a tiny plot at Yellingbo is one of the best value we've seen from him. Planted on iron-rich red volcanic dirt at 200 metres, this is high-country chardonnay with attitude.

Andrew presses the whole bunches straight into old, oversized French barrels with full solids, then basically leaves it alone on lees without a single stir until bottling. Very minimal handling but all class by the time it hits the glass.

The 2025 vintage is incredibly lean and precise, carrying an unforced whiff of white stone fruits, bitter citrus rind, and a distinct, ocean-spray saltiness. Great drive across the palate, all about chalky texture and a nutty, savoury dry finish that just lingers.

With only 70 dozen made, it is a proper blink-and-you-miss-it release here from Marksy.