Based in the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania, Holm Oak is a family-owned winery of husband-and-wife team of winemaker Bec Duffy and viticulturalist Tim Duffy. With a focus on estate-grown, small volumes wines, this impressive winery consistently delivers outstanding expressions of their cool-climate varietals. This 2025 Holm Oak Chardonnay is another refined and elegant cool climate Tasmanian Chardonnay. The nose displays vibrant aromas of citrus fruit, apricot kernel and white peach. The palate is beautifully structured, with these quality fruit flavours shining through with excellent intensity and balance. Supported by subtle quality French oak and lively acidity, this is an impressive Chardonnay that will offer plenty of joy over the coming decade. "94 Points. Three clones of Chardonnay were racked to 30% new French oak barrels and the remainder in seasoned oak. 50% went through malolactic fermentation and matured with occasional lees stirring. This is already a very giving wine, generous in plush in its peach and cooked nectarine, with lemon curd and Swiss vanilla buttercream. Acidity steers the wine along, maintaining a zippy edge to the fruit power, but fruit as always in this wine speaks with the most confidence. It feels like a miniscule amount of salt has seasoned the wine, appropriately as this is a wine you will want to keep sipping on. Drink now or will cellar well for another 5-8 years. Serve with a celeriac cream and panfried slab of cod."- Shanteh Wale, Wine Pilot. "93 Points. Three clones of Chardonnay were used here, with the fruit coming from two discrete blocks. A natural fermentation in barrel, 30% of that being new French oak, was followed by 50% of the wine undergoing malolactic fermentation. Maturation was for a further eight months with occasional stirring of the lees. A straw hue, the nose reveals notes of nectarines, citrus, spices, hints of oatmeal and lemon curd. There is good intensity throughout with impressive focus and balance. A sleek texture runs right through to the lingering and rather persistent finish. A most attractive style for enjoying over the next six to eight years. $32. Drink: 2026 - 2034"- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.
