Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2016
95 points, James Halliday Wine Companion 2019
So much flavour packed into this chardonnay, but never loses focus or detail. Pristine and perfectly ripe fruit, a mix of stone fruit and citrus folded into creamy lees, and ginger notes with a liberal seasoning of integrated French oak spice. A fuller-bodied palate, texture and complexity with ultra-refreshing acidity. No point waiting.
Andrew Graham - Australian Wine Review - October 2018
Richer vintage for the classic Shaw + Smith M3 style but it doesn’t lose shape. Lemon butter and apple juice meets toasty oak, the finish still shaped by grapefruit but it’s softer than in some years. More approachable early and very likeable, it’s a carefully made Hills Chardonnay from a warm year. You can be on my dinner table anytime M3.
Richard Hemming MW - Jancisrobinson.com - August 2018
Toast and oyster shell on the nose with all the salinity and poise of great Chablis. Yet there is much more substance on the palate, not too dissimilar to the likes of Pouilly-Fuissé, in fact. Would be a great challenge to identify this blind! Really terroir-driven.
Toni Paterson - The Real Review - August 2018
Despite the warm year, this chardonnay has impressive reserve, with the hard-to-achieve mix of elegance and intensity. It is youthful and primary right now, with room to grow over time. A complex wine with bright, lemony fruit. the winemaking stamp is sophisticated yet subtle.
Ray Jordan - West Weekend Magazine - July 2018
These M3 chardies are achieving such wonderful consistency. Another very good wine opens with a compelling mix of butterscotch and stone fruit on the nose, with some subtle savoury charry influences.The palate is layered, with a sustained finish of power and focus.
Huon Hooke - The Real Review - May 2018
Light to mid-yellow colour with savoury nutty, straw and toast aromas. A trace of malt. The wine is delicate, light to medium-bodied and not especially concentrated, but has attractive flavour and style, finishing clean and dry with a pleasingly savoury aftertaste. Cleansing acidity keeps the finish fresh.
Newcastle Herald - May 2018
Since the first from the 2000 vintage, the Shaw + Smith M3 chardonnays have been invariable among the nation’s best. This 2016 is lime green-tinted straw and has aromas of apricot and macadamia nuts. The front palate has elegant white nectarine flavour and drag-on fruit, lemon curd, brioche and cashew oak meld on the middle palate. Slatey acid features at the finish.
GOLD - James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge 2017
GOLD - Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2017