A contemporary and elegant Chardonnay from one of the Adelaide Hills' most exciting producers. White flowers, citrus, and nectarines on the nose, alongside smoky notes from perfectly integrated oak.

This wine opens with intense aromas of white flowers and lemon blossom. Typically, the 'M3' shows citrus and nectarine notes. Aiming for elegance, restraint and the ability to age, the acidity is bright and there is generosity of flavour.

Established in 1989 by Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW, Shaw + Smith's aim is to make contemporary, high quality wines that stand among the best of their type in Australia. The wines are made exclusively from fruit grown in the Adelaide Hills, one of Australia's coolest and most exciting regions. Shaw + Smith specialise in grape varieties suited to cooler climates, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and also make outstanding wines from Shiraz and Pinot Noir.

Fruit was predominantly sourced from the Shaw + Smith vineyard at Lenswood, which was planted in 1999 and purchased by Martin and Michael in 2012. Undulating with east and west facing aspects at 455 - 500 metres above sea level, the soils are brown loams over clay with broken shale on the ridges. Low yields were achieved by aggressive pruning and pre-harvest bunch thinning. All fruit was hand picked to avoid any fruit damage.

The 2019 growing season was one that challenged even the most experienced and well equipped vignerons. Those that made the most of it produced small crops of very clean fruit with wonderful flavour and intensity. Natural acidity is a feature in all of the wines despite the warm dry summer.

The grapes were chilled overnight, whole bunch pressed, and then fermented in French oak, one third of which was new. The wine was matured for nine months in oak with some lees stirring, followed by two months in tank on lees prior to bottling.