In recent times, Atlas has emerged as one South Australia’s most exciting wine producers. The project of Adam Barton and Amy Lane, Atlas consistently deliver impressive examples of Clare Valley and surrounding region’s hero varietals.

This 2021 Atlas Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is made from grapes grown at the Hill Smith vineyard at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. A product of a near-perfect vintage, this opens with vibrant and lifted aromas of citrus, white peach and fig notes. The palate is elegant with flavours of ripe nectarine and pink grapefruit supported by subtle almond, flinty stone and creamy lees characters with hints of toasty oak. Another delicious Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, this has loads of appeal in the short to medium term.

“From Woodside, in the Adelaide Hills. Peach and apple, some spicy oak, cashew and cream. It’s savoury in a cheesy/lactic way, but has very bright green apple acidity, and in some respects seems not quite integrated as yet – a game of two halves – as it were. Finish has plenty of zip and lemon zest flavour. It has intensity, and I reckon it will settle down pretty nicely with another year or two in bottle. 91+ Points Tasted: Aug22 12.5% alc. $40 Screwcap Drink: 2023 – 2028″- Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.