The 2011 Chardonnay is still youthfully mute at this stage, revealing subtle notes of lemon peel, fresh grapefruit and orange blossom with whiffs of crushed almonds, buttered toast, allspice and coriander seed. Medium-bodied and tightly knit in the mouth, it has a lovely satiny texture and plenty of rich citrus, baking spice and yeasty flavors with a great backbone of crisp acid that lingers long into the layered finish. It should drink best 2014 to 2019+. Marchand & Burch is a joint venture between Burgundian Pascal Marchand and Jeff Burch of Howard Park based in Margaret River. They are now working together to jointly produce wines from Great Southern with an emphasis on Chardonnay and Pinot. 2007 was their first vintage working together.Importer: Lion Nathan USA, Overland Park, KS; Tel: (913) 338-4433.

Aged in French oak, 40% new, and matured on lees for 10 months, the 2010 Chardonnay has gives expressive notes of fresh apricots, spiced apple slices and pear tart over nuances of meal, honey toast and almonds. Medium bodied with a good backbone of refreshing acidity, the palate offers a great concentration of stone fruit and savory flavors with a light creaminess to the texture. It finishes with lingering toast and warm apple flavors. Still a little youthful and tight, it should drink best 2012-2017. Importer: Lion Nathan USA, Overland Park, KS; Tel: (913) 338-4433; www.marchandburchwines.com.au

The 2009 Chardonnay, from the Porongurups region in Great Southern, was hand-picked, chilled overnight and pressed into barrel (40-50% new) with a fair bit of solids, receiving 100% natural ferment and malo-lactic. It has very pretty floral aromas of orange blossom, jasmine, some peaches and cream and honeydew melon. With a medium body, crisp acidity and a long and minerally finish, this is an elegant style for drinking now to 2015+. Jeff Burch of Howard Park struck up a friendship with Pascal Marchand, a neighbor living close to his house in Monthelie, Burgundy, and they are now working together to jointly produce wines with an emphasis on Chardonnay and Pinot in Western Australia. 2007 was their first vintage working together. Currently only about 350 cases of each wine are produced.Importer: Lion Nathan USA, Overland Park, KS; tel. (913) 338-4433; www.marchandburchwines.com.au