We’re proud to share that our 2023 A. Rodda Baxendale Vineyard Whitlands Chardonnay has been named among the Top 100 Wines of 2025, as selected by the prestigious Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team.
This annual list – originally curated by James Halliday himself and now continued by his expert team following his retirement in 2024, represents the very best of Australian wine across varietals, price points and regions. It’s a comprehensive celebration of Australia’s winemaking talent and terroir, and we are honoured to be included. Our inclusion comes under the Top White Wines Over $40, a category long dominated by Chardonnay, and for good reason. The 2023 Baxendale Vineyard Chardonnay, sourced from the cool, high-altitude Whitlands Plateau in Victoria’s King Valley, showcases the purity, tension, and elegance that define the site and our winemaking approach.
Wine writer Jeni Port beautifully captured its character in her tasting note for the Halliday Top 100:
“A high-class chardonnay from a high-altitude vineyard that specialises in scintillating chardonnays of great purity. Brimming in alpine florals, white flowers, lemon sorbet and white peach bright scents. Embraces a brisk, easy energy across the palate, pulsing in citrus, stone fruits, almond skin and nougat amid a light, evolving complexity. It’s early days, but that brisk acidity is in place with some serious ageing in mind.”
95 points | RRP $50 | 13% alc | Screw cap | Drink to 2033 | Read up on the new vintage (2024) wine here.
The Baxendale Vineyard, perched at 600 metres above sea level, offers ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay with clarity and finesse. The 2023 vintage reflects a cooler growing season, allowing for extended ripening and the development of nuanced fruit character alongside refreshing natural acidity.
This recognition from the Halliday Tasting Team affirms our belief in site-driven winemaking and our commitment to crafting wines that speak of both place and vintage. Thank you to the Halliday Wine Companion for this honour, and to all of you who continue to support A.Rodda Wines on this journey.
