An Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from One of Australia's Most Storied Cool-Climate Estates

My Wine Man on Shaw + Smith

Shaw + Smith was founded in 1989 by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith, who saw the potential of the Adelaide Hills long before it became one of Australia's most talked-about cool-climate regions. Today the estate stands as a benchmark for Australian Chardonnay, with a winemaking philosophy built on varietal purity, balance and site expression. The M3 draws the majority of its fruit from the estate's Lenswood, Piccadilly and Lobethal vineyards in the cooler upper reaches of the Hills, grown on loams over clay and quartz. Hand-picking, whole bunch pressing and nine months in fine French oak, including malolactic fermentation, underline a style that favours restraint and precision over show.

Tasting Notes

Lifted notes of lemon peel, citrus blossom and a subtle tempering spice lead to a citrus-driven palate of grapefruit and lemon. Fine, flinty layers and a touch of almond meal add depth and texture through the mid-palate, while bright acidity gives length and precision. Delicate yet complex, and thoroughly moreish.

Style & Drinking Window

A taut, medium-bodied white with a slender frame, fine natural acidity and savoury flint detail rather than heavy oak. Enjoy it in its youth for freshness, or cellar through the early 2030s as the flinty and nutty layers gain complexity. Serve cool, around 10 to 12°C; a short rest in the glass lets the texture unfurl.

Food Pairing

The crisp citrus drive and flinty precision of the 2025 Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay make it a natural match for the Canadian Frozen Wild King Salmon Fillet from My Meat Man. The wine's grapefruit and lemon notes cut cleanly through the rich, oily texture of wild king salmon, while its subtle almond meal and spice detail echo the fish's deep, savoury flavour beautifully — whether pan-seared with a squeeze of lemon, oven-roasted with fresh herbs, or lightly grilled over coals.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$269, the M3 Chardonnay offers a genuine taste of the top tier of Australian cool-climate Chardonnay: estate vineyard fruit, hand-picking, whole bunch pressing and nine months in fine French oak. Wines of comparable pedigree from prestige labels often sit at noticeably higher price points, which makes this a compelling way into benchmark Adelaide Hills Chardonnay.

Looking for a Different Style?

If you feel like exploring, three picks from other producers:

• 2022 Nautilus Marlborough Chardonnay — a rounder, creamier New Zealand take on Chardonnay.
• 2024 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay — a taut, site-driven expression from the Yarra Valley.
• 2022 Henschke Peggy's Hill Riesling — a bone-dry, aromatic Riesling for a crisper, more mineral direction.