97 Points James Halliday — A Beechworth Icon at the Peak of Its Powers

My Wine Man on Giaconda

Giaconda is one of the most revered names in Australian wine. Founded by Rick Kinzbrunner in 1982 on the granite soils of Beechworth, Victoria, this tiny family estate has spent four decades producing Chardonnay of extraordinary precision, depth, and Burgundian elegance. Production is minuscule — a few hundred cases per vintage — and demand from collectors around the world far outstrips supply. The Estate Chardonnay is the flagship: a wine that consistently ranks among the finest white wines produced anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2019 vintage was a year of exceptional quality in Beechworth, delivering wines of remarkable concentration and natural balance. This is as serious as Australian Chardonnay gets.

Tasting Notes

Bright gold with a green-tinged rim. The nose is complex and compelling — white peach, nectarine, and citrus zest are layered with struck flint, toasted hazelnut, creamy lees, and a fine mineral thread that speaks directly to the granite soils beneath the vineyard. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet perfectly poised — rich and textural without heaviness, with a core of stone fruit and subtle oak framing a finish of extraordinary length and precision. The defining tension between richness and freshness, fruit and minerality, is the hallmark of great Giaconda. 97 Points — James Halliday

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with vibrant natural acidity and a creamy, textural mid-palate. Drinking beautifully now with 30–60 minutes of air, and will continue to evolve and reward cellaring through to 2030–2034+. A wine of genuine Burgundian structure that will only gain complexity with time.

Food Pairing

The creamy lees texture, toasted-nut character, and granite-driven tension of the 2019 Giaconda Estate Chardonnay make it a magnificent match for Bare Bird Premium Free-Range Whole Boneless Butterflied Chicken from My Meat Man. The wine's richness and minerality complement the delicate, savoury character of premium free-range chicken beautifully — whether roasted with truffle butter and morels, butterflied over charcoal with lemon and herbs, or served with a creamy tarragon sauce. Also outstanding alongside salmon with beurre blanc, or a selection of soft cheese such as triple-cream brie.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

The 2019 Giaconda Estate Chardonnay is a mature, cellar-ready vintage from one of Australia's most allocation-restricted producers. At HK$2,888, this 97-point Beechworth Chardonnay offers a rare window into a wine that simply does not appear on the open market with any regularity. Comparable single-estate Australian Chardonnay of this pedigree and age commands HK$3,500–5,000+ at auction. A serious collector's opportunity.

Looking for a Different Style?

- 2019 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay — a peer-level Margaret River icon of great power and finesse
- 2010 Cullen Kevin John Wilyabrup Chardonnay — a mature, biodynamic Margaret River Chardonnay of extraordinary depth
- 2021 Vasse Felix Premier Chardonnay — a refined, elegant Margaret River Chardonnay with superb natural balance

Life's too short for bad wine.