2023 Chardonnay
"This is a wine that continually delivers polished quality chardonnay at real value for money. This one from the '23 vintage nails the early drinking but with a little complexity style perfectly. Stone fruit with a little butterscotch and citrus finished with a slight minerally flinty character. 95 points." - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2025
"During a recent family dinner I was schooled by my brother on the ‘very demure, very mindful’ TikTok trend. Unbeknown to me, the video has over 50 million views and is cited on the US White House’s Instagram. Three years difference between us, and the divide between Millennial and Gen Z has never been so apparent. A verbose prelude, however, it seems winemaker Mike Lemmes has unintentionally crafted a TikTok trending wine. ‘Demure’ on the nose, a combination of ripe white nectarine, peach skin, crème brulée, honeycomb and hints of sawdust. And ‘mindful’ on the palate – as deft oak builds a mid-palate richness to complement its initial lemon bite. Some additional length would not go astray – that being said, there is balance and a seamless transition from primary to secondary characters. It is a sequence not often seen at this price point – made all the better by a moreish pistachio nougat finish. 90 points." - Tijana Laganin, Winepilot.com.au, Sept 2024
"Mike Lemmes (the original winemaker) is back at Rosily now, in time for the 2023 vintage. Good news. This gets 50% new oak (quite an expense for a $28 wine), and comes from vines that are 29 years old (Wilyabrup). White peach, green banana, grapefruit, a fair bit of spicy vanilla wafer oak (though well integrated), and some white flower perfume. Medium-weight, a little creamy, but has bright grapefruity acidity, a fine chalky texture, spicy biscuity oak, and a finish of good length. It’s a pleasing glass of Chardonnay that’s flavoursome but has good balance, and offers plenty of drinking appeal at a pretty modest price. In short, very good. 92 points". - Gary Walsh, The Winefront, April 2024
"Spent 9 months in French oak (50% new), which dominates nose and palate right now, adding biscuit and nuts to the pristine white stone fruits. Some creme brulee and nougat notes fill in the background. There’s a touch of cream on the palate, and the finish is long. I’ve enjoyed these chardies for years, and the oak blends in after a year or so. 94 points, BUY." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au April 2024
"Mid gold in colour, a clue that it will be no shrinking violet! It's classic Wilyabrup in style - complex, full flavoured with white peach, stone fruits, texture and tannin. The richness is nicely counterpointed with fresh acid. 3.5 stars." - Fergal Gleeson, Greatwineblog, April 24
Past vintage reviews and awards
2022 Chardonnay
"There are few better value chardonnays from Margaret River. And yet again this one delivers right on the money. You get a little peachy stone fruit on the nose with a punchy floral lift. On the palate other characters of flinty matchstick and butterscotch emerge. Has a creamy rich texture but the fine acidity keeps it tight and precise. 91 points." - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2024
"Mid-straw and bright in appearance. Aromas of white peach, nectarine, white flowers and nougat. Flavours are well and truly in the stone-fruit realm along with lively acidity and a touch of grip. Easy drinking, generously flavoured and decent value. 90 points" - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, Jul 2023
"The technical and production details are much the same as those for the 2021. This wine is a touch richer and riper, with oak to match. A lovely mouthful. Drink now or over 2 years. 94+ points." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au
2021 Chardonnay
"Mid-yellow colour showing some development, the bouquet exuding smoky reductive aromas over creamed hazelnut and dusty straw aromas, the palate more reserved and tense, clean and dry throughout with a tensioned, tapered finish. A lingering aftertaste which is very dry and appetising. 92 points." Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Aug 2022
"Salted pears, nori, apple skins and white peach are the calling cards of this wine. It has more sesame-seed oil and viscosity than expected from the cool season, making it almost lush and certainly satisfying. Nicely done. 92 points." - Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion, Aug 2022
"Lemon meringue-like bouquet and a rich lifted sound fruit palate with obvious oak. 94 points." - Winestate, July 2022
"The winery has been certified organic for several years. The wine was barrel fermented and spent 9 months in French oak, half of it new. They use high quality imported barrels, so this is expensive treatment for a wine at this price level. 12% of the barrels went through malolactic fermentation. Just 557 cases made. The wine shows a lot of restraint right now, showing white peach notes gently roasted nuts and an understated squeeze of grapefruit. There’s good intensity on the palate, some lees complexity, and fine minerals round out the finish. It has the structure to age well, it needs a year or two to show its full colours, 93+ points. BUY for the cellar." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com, July 2022...September 2022 review below:
"It’s opening up and revealing more complexity, so I’ve raised the point score to 94+ points. It will get to 95 points in a year or 2. I’ve enjoyed many Chardonnays from Rosily, but this is a change in style to a more complex, more energetic chardy. Winemaker Mick Scott left Rosily last year, and the current winemaker is Peter Stanlake, who has made wine for Hayshed Hill and a variety of small wineries including Talisman Wines and Fifth Estate (which won the Chardonnay trophy at the Boutique wine awards two years running )" - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com, September 2022
2020 Chardonnay
"Powerful stone fruit is impacted by high toast oak on the nose. The streaks of golden in the glass are surely down to the time spent in oak, however the concentration of yellow peach and red apple indicate that the fruit will win out, in the end. Very impressive for the price. 93 points" - Erin Larkin, winecompanion.com, Aug 2021
“You get an awful lot of significant inputs in this value-for-money chardonnay. It’s organic to start with, then there are the seven different clones, plus a mix of different coopers in the oak selection. The result is a classy expression with a fine minerally savoury line cutting through the nectarine and subtle oatmeal influences. Terrific value for money here. 93 points.” – Ray Jordan, The West Australian, Feb 11 2021
"Rosily and merrily. Some concentration but freshness, sea spray and citrus, nougat in the mix, tartness a factor but pleasing in the roll of the wine and finishes bright and lightly puckering. Oak, winemaking edifice is neat and tidy too, but there, you can tell. Quite a delicious thing here. 91 points." - Mike Bennie, The Winefront, Mar 2021
2019 Chardonnay
"Certified organic from the ‘18 vintage. A blend of 7 clones of chardonnay (majority Gingin); partial mlf; 9 months in 50% new French oak. The nose here is green pineapple, the palate has white peach, rolling viscosity, and a salty acid line. Rich and complex, layered, powerful. Plenty to touch and feel - a lovely wine with moderate length. Green apple, white tea, jasmine and plenty of maritime spray. 93 points." - Erin Larkin, Nov 2020
"When you can get a chardonnay of this quality for $25, you have to pinch yourself. It's a rich and textured style, though the controlling crisp acid and tight oak restraint has brought things together nicely. Palate delivers a pure expression for the variety with a lemon curd and brioche buttery finish. 91 points." - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, Nov 2020
2018 Chardonnay
Silver medal 2019 Winewise Show
"Seven clones, hand picked, fermented in French oak (50% new, 50% 1yo), a mix of wild and cultured yeast. Bright straw-greem; an ultra-fresh wine, grapefruit and white peach fruit have managed to hold sway over the theoretically obvious oak aroma and flavour. As always, Rosily manages to turn the normal economics of wine production on their head. Drink to 2030, 94pts." - James Halliday Magazine, Nov 2019
"A fresh nutty chardonnay with a pronounced oak influence. It has plenty of flavour and some warmth on the finish.★★★★" - Winewise Show judges 2019 (blind tasting)
"The nose hints at white peaches and cashews, the fruit is rich and ripe and balanced by French oak, slightly toasted but not overdone. It’s a round mouthful of a wine showing signs of barrel fermentation and lees stirring, along with classic notes of stone fruit and cashews. Real depth of flavour. Needs a little more time for the elements to sing in perfect harmony. My kind of chardy. 95+ points". - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com, April 2019
"Bright, light to mid-yellow colour with a nougat, vanilla, almost slight marzipan-like nuances. Oak makes a strong impact. The wine has an extra dimension of character, thanks to some artifact adding interest to the fruit. It's rich and rounded, medium-bodied and skilfully combines restraint with generosity. A very tasty chardonnay, and excellent value. 91 points." - Huon Hooke, therealreview.com, March 2019
"Light and bright yellow colour. It's a complex and savoury bouquet of hazelnuts, caramel and toasty, spicy oak. It's remarkably fresh when sipped, driven by lemon essence, which carries through to a zesty, tangy finish. Loads of life. Terrific value. 92 Points." - Nick Butler, therealreview.com, April 2020
2017 Chardonnay
"Another wine of exceptional value from Rosily, sourced from leaner gravels which, with reductive handling, imparts flinty tension to effusive notes of peach, quince, apricot, citrus and measured vanilla-pod oak. The ferment was initiated with ambient yeast, before a 'pied de cuve' of a more robust strain kicked it through to dryness. An intelligent approach given the sweetness on many 'wild' ferments. Mid-weighted, layered and thrillingly long. 96 points" - Ned Goodwin, 2019 Australian Wine Companion
"Every year Rosily's chardies improve on the previous vintage, and so it is with the 2017. It's a rich, seductive, almost opulent white with layers of flavour. The oak has the upper hand right now, as is common in young Burgundies; this one has spent 9 months in partly new barrels of classy, polished Burgundian oak. It's added the cashews to the peaches here, while lees stirring and malolactic fermentation have added complexity. There are hints of butter, exotic spices and minerals to round off a chardy that reminded me of Chassagne-Montrachet. Will improve for a few years but I doubt you'd be able to keep your hands off it. 96 points. Serious bargain." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au, January 2018
"A zesty Margaret River chardonnay with inviting aromas of white peach, citrus and tart green apple, dressed lightly in a touch of oak. It's tangy in the mouth with good underlying structure and a superfine, sustained, dry finish. Drink over the next 3 years, 90 points." - Ralph Kyte-Powell, Sydney Morning Herald August 2018
"This mature block is now producing quality fruit for this wine. It's made from a mix of seven different clones designed to produce complex flavours. Multi-layered palate profile with a nectarine stone-fruit influence with a little white peach and grapefruit. Subtle use of oak. Nice vanillin character pervades while the palate is long. 91 points" - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 28th March 2017
"Toasty notes with green apple, pear drop, stone fruits. Good punch of flavour in the palate, concentration, good length too, well judged spicy oak characters integrated well into the wine. Soft finish is pleasing too. Nicely done. 90 points" - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front April 2018
"Light to medium yellow, bright colour, with a smoky, toasty barrel-fermented bouquet, the palate opening out into a rich, expansive mouthful of flavour. There is well-harmonised oak and fruit, and the smoked chicken and popcorn-like nuances add extra interest to a foundation of appealing grapefruit flavour. A very smart chardonnay, multi-faceted and full of interest. 92 points." - Huon Hooke, hounhooke.com April 2018 (ranked #7 of 83 Australian Chardonnay 2017 tasted; price benchmark for 92 points in this category is $33.00)
Past vintage reviews and awards
2016 Chardonnay
- Silver Medal 2017 International Wine Challenge
"Ripe peach and cashew nut. Understated but creamy bright stone fruit flavours with balanced oak" - International Wine Challenge show judges.
"More great value from Rosily: Pear, ripe lime, toasty oak, cashew vanilla and cinnamon. Medium bodied but full flavoured, spiced white fruit, banana split, clean acidity and a good finish. Quite a bit of oak here, but a lovely wine all up." - 92pts, Gary Walsh, The Winefront, April 2017
"This is a ready to drink young Chardonnay with loads of fresh, vibrant fruit characters - distinctive white peach with some spices and subtle savoury grapefruit notes. Just starting to show some complexity and while it is so enjoyable now, it will handle a few years in the cellar to develop those lovely toasty complexities. Consistently great value from an underrated Margaret River producer" - 91pts, Ray Jordan, The West Australian.
2015 Chardonnay
- Silver 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards
- Silver 2016 Boutique Wine Show
"Smoky, nutty oak jumps out of the glass, but deeper aromas of grapefruit and white peach are not far behind. Glycerous mouthfeel embraces varietal citrus and stone fruit flavours. Beautifully balanced and very Margaret River". - 94 points James Halliday, 2017 Australian Wine Companion
"From the ever-reliable Rosily Vineyard.Banana split, touch of struck match, lime and melon. Medium bodied, smooth, cashewy and glossy with a little bitterness and crunch on the finish. It’s balanced, tasty and good to drink - 91pts." - Gary Walsh, The Winefront, July 2016
"Bright, light to medium yellow and a slightly rubbery barrel-ferment and lees-contact bouquet. Lightly toasted cashews. Smoky oak hints. The palate is soft and smooth, nutty and savoury: a quite up-front, easy drinking chardonnay of good quality - 90pts" - Huon Hooke, July 2017, Huonhooke.com
"Layered and luxurious, with honeyed tropical fruit and plush, ripe melon aromas. Creamy, rich and alluring on the palate, filled with heady nectarine and underpinned with a beautiful structure and fine acidity." Decanter World Wine Awards 2016 tasting notes
"I raved about this after a recent trade tasting, and now I’ve shared a bottle of it. Richer than usual with ripe peaches making it easier to enjoy young French oak is slick but unobtrusive, the fine acid backbone suggests it will last a few years. Hand-picked and handmade, it always sells out fast. 94+ points. BUY" - Kim Brebach, May 2016, bestwinesunder20.com.au
2014 Chardonnay
- Gold 2015 Boutique Wine Show
"The estate chardonnay block has seven clones planted, building complexity from the word go. Evident oak is no more important than the grapefruity acidity that enlivens the palate, above all, it has that special Margaret River depth. Cellar to 2022 - 94 points". Halliday Magazine, December / January 2015/16
"A giveaway at $25, this is a high-quality Margaret River chardonnay. With a light-yellow hue and a savoury nutty, straw-like bouquet developing a touch of nougat as it airs, this medium bodied wine has richness and density combined with appealing lightness of being. Long finish - 92 points." Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 18/8/15
"Light, bright yellow hue; shy, savoury bouquet with some straw, toast and nut aromas; a hint of nougat - the palate likewise, with medium body and a richness and density that's attractive in a lighter-weighted wine. It has a long carry. Very good and will build with more time. - 92 points. #1 of 21 Margaret River 2014 Chardonnays tasted" Huon Hooke, Huonhook.com 15/7/15
"Another very tidy chardonnay from this rather underrated vineyard that continues to produce exceptional wines that are some of the best prices in the region. Nutty and creamy with a minerally cut. Excellent texture and fleshy mouthfeel kept controlled and focused with some spicy oak and a crisp closing acid". 90 points. - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2016
2012 Chardonnay
- Silver 2013 Winewise Small Vigneron Show
"A distinguished Chardonnay with a blend of Gingin (72%) and Dijon clones, that spent 9 months in French oak (60% new); has the full suite of grapefruit, white peach and nectarine flavours, braced by a crisp acidity. Great value". - 94 points James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2014
"A Chardonnay of some power. Seven different clones of Chardonnay are used to bring complexity into the mix. A little lees influence with the French oak adding some texture especially into the middle palate. Has a creamy nougat and stone fruit richness with the oak and fruit neatly balanced. 91 points Ray Jordan, West Australian Wine Guide 2014
2011 Chardonnay
- Silver 2012 International Wine Challenge
- Silver 2012 Australian Small Winemakers Show
"OUTSTANDING" 95 - 100pts - Decanter blind tasting of West Australian Chardonnay, June 2013 (one of only three outstanding ratings from 80 wines tasted).
"Intriguing mix of oak-burnished vegetal and fruit scents: lime, vetiver, jasmine, fennel. Full-flavoured and long in the palate. A ripe, satisfying Chardonnay with lots of grain and texture to it. One for Burgundy lovers. Andrew Jefford, Decanter June 2013
"Lots of acidity to balance nectarines, white peaches and a dollop of custard. A full bodied wine but the acidity makes it clean and refreshing" Roger Jones, Decanter June 2013
"Complex and intense with a lovely barrel-fermented nose. Voluptuous with lots of ripe tropical fruit. Big and bold but with elegance and finesse" Alessandro Marchesan, Decanter June 2013
"Straw-green; a convincing example of Margaret River chardonnay, the depth of the fruit from a mix of the Mendoza clone (60%) and others, including the Dijon clones; barrel fermentation in 60% new French oak frames the assemblage of white peach, nectarine and grapefruit varietal flavours plus toasty cashew notes ex oak". - 94 points James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2013
2010 Chardonnay
- Gold 2012 International Wine Challenge
- Silver 2011 Perth Royal Wine Show
"Wonderful ripe smell reminiscent of Baskin Robbins' bubble gum ice cream. Vanilla coconut. Lovely balance. Spicy oak, frothy acidity and stacks of ripe stone fruit. Well done." Judges in blind tasting, International Wine Challenge 2011
"While the Gingin clone so important to Margaret River is dominant, the estate block from which the grapes come has six additional clones; despite nine months in 60% new French oak, it is the intensity of the fruit that defines the wine, with its minerally structure cradling the grapefruit and white peach flavours. - 93 points" - James Halliday, 2011 Australian Wine Companion
2009 Chardonnay
- Gold 2010 Cowra Wine Show
- Silver 2010 Royal Hobart Wine Show
"Light straw-green; no less than seven clones, including three recent arrivals from Burgundy, lie at the heart of this tightly structured and intensely flavoured chardonnay; grapefruit, white peach and flinty acidity run through to the long finish. Exceptional bargain - 95 points, drink to 2018" - James Halliday, 2011 Wine Companion Newsletter
"Finely balanced and fruit driven, and likely to build in the bottle. Fresh aromas of peach, pear and apple with undertones of grapefruit, ginger, cashew and lightly toasty vanilla oak precede a palate of genuine elegance, despite the lusciousness of its fruit. Carefully matched with restrained nutty, vanilla oak, it's long and fresh, with a lingering core of tropical flavours, grapefruit and spice. - 92 points" Jeremy Oliver, The Australian Wine Annual 2011
"These guys have stepped into a new league with their chardonnays in recent times. This one from seven different clones including three Burgundians is the most complex and intriguing of any yet released. It has a fine structure in keeping with the vintage, ample firepower on the palate and a lingering precise finish. - 93 points" Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 22nd April 2010
2008 Chardonnay
- Silver 2009 Australian Small Winemakers Show
"A great example of the complexity Margaret River can achieve with overtones of (good) Burgundy; the intense yet fine array of fruit aromas and flavours are the cornerstone, oak merely a vehicle. Will develop very well." 95 points - James Halliday, Top 100 "Best of the Rest", The Weekend Australian Magazine 14th November 2009
"The best Chardonnay yet from this smallish Margaret River producer. It's one of the finest and tightest examples of Margaret River Chardonnay, and the use of seven different clones including a couple of recent Burgundian additions has contributed in a big way. Exotic white peach and grapefruit with a fine minerally thread. Cracking good modern Aussi style wine. A sign of the future at Margaret River perhaps. - 94 points" Ray Jordan, 2010 WA Wine Guide
"Clean, with a nice nutty bouquet and a solid middle palate of sweet fruit, this wine has nice acid and good length" Scoop, Spring 2009
2007 Chardonnay
- Silver 2008 Australian Small Winemakers Show
"Generously proportioned, with an abundance of stone fruit flavours and a drizzle of grapefruit" Rating: 91 - James Halliday, 2010 Australian Wine Companion
"A succulent, finely balanced chardonnay with a delicate aroma of grapefruit, melon and lemon backed by fresh spicy vanilla oak and smoky nuances of wheatmeal and grilled nuts. It's smooth and elegant, with a sumptuous depth of fruit, bacony nuances and rather overt, charry oak presented down a fine, creamy fluffy mouthfeel that finishes with vibrant acidity" Rating: 90 - Jeremy Oliver, 2009 Australian Wine Annual
"One of the newer savoury, food-friendly chardies, Rosily is a grapefruity Margaret River wine with melony fruit and a whiff of spicy oak. The dry palate is fine in texture with tangy citrus notes, a dab of creamy richness mid-palate and a long, lean-boned finish. Drink now to 2011" Rating: 4.5/5 - Ralph Kyte-Powell, Sun Herald Magazine, November 2008
"Intense smells of butterscotch and creamy peach nectar with a piercing minerality. Palate is deliciously appealing with a rich, slightly unctuous slippery feel and a long intense finish. Impressive wine with great potential. 91/100" – Ray Jordan, West Australian Fresh, July 2008
"Good fruit. The acidity is balanced with the oak to make for a good length with nice complexity" – International Wine Challenge 2008
2006 Chardonnay
- Silver 2007 Margaret River Wine Show
"Elegant and intense, with seamless line and balance of fruit, oak and acidity." Rating 90, drink to 2013 – James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition
2005 Chardonnay
- Silver 2006 Rutherglen Wine Show
- Silver 2006 Margaret River Wine Show
"The Rosily wines enjoy less fanfare than other Margaret River wines, and they also command lower prices. This young Chardonnay is typically good value. It starts off with melon, peach and citrus aromas nicely integrated with spicey, toasty oak and nutty touches. The palate is juicy and ripe, yet subtly complex, finishing long and nutty." Rating: 4.5/5 Value: 3/3 - Ralph Kyte-Powell
2004 Chardonnay
- Silver 2005 Qantas Mount Barker Show
"The colour is bright mid-yellow and the bouquet is clean and fresh, exuding aromas of high quality oak and peachy fruit, with a slight lift that may come from some wild-yeast fermentation. The oak is certainly on the generous side, while the finish carries a certain warmth from alcohol." Quality: 4/5 Value: 4/5 - Penguin Wine Guide 2004/2005
"This is a very reasonable price for a Margaret River chardonnay, and while it's not at the super-complex end of things, its very presentable. The nose has custardy melon and grapefruit aromas trimmed in a light dressing of oak. The palate is fresh and clean with good persistence and length, finishing dry and slightly toasty." Rating: **** _- Ralph Kyte-Powell
"At this very early stage if its life, this wine is a touch on the oaky side – but it's gloriously delicious. Fine, smoky, toasty oak, with pretty, floral citrus chardonnay fruit underneath." - Max Allen
2003 Chardonnay
"Nicely balanced stone fruit, melon and cashew flavours, good acid balance, stylish." RATING 90. DRINK 2009 - James Halliday
"A brilliant, green-tinged wine in the glass, this smells of melon and stone fruit with quite a strong veneer of slightly raw oak. The oak is less apparent in the mouth; in fact the palate saves the day very well. It's smooth and attractive with skillfully integrated fruit and oak, good length and a zesty, lingering finish. That oak on the nose should disappear into the wine nicely over a year or two, but its still a very tasty drop right now." Quality: 4.5/5 Value: 5/5 - Penguin Wine Guide 2004/2005
"This is great value for Margaret River chardonnay. It comes from the high quality Willyabrup sub district and has ripe stone fruit and melon on the nose with some slightly raw oak. There's less wood on the smoothly integrated palate, which has persistent flavour and a tangy finish. Rating: 4.5/5 - Ralph Kyte-Powell