2007 Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay – Pure & Refreshing Australian Classic

Elegant. Pure. Unexpected. The 2007 Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay from South Australia is a brilliant example of how restraint and purity can create a timeless white wine. Crafted in stainless steel without a whisper of oak, this Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay captures the vibrancy of the McLaren Vale terroir while aging with remarkable grace.

In a world overflowing with heavily oaked Chardonnays, this unoaked gem stands out by doing less — and achieving more. The wine is fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve the crisp fruit profile, sharp acidity, and natural minerality of the Chardonnay grape. Now, after over 15 years of aging in bottle, it delivers a graceful and complex expression that balances citrus brightness with a beautifully textured palate.

From the first swirl, you’ll notice its golden glow — a sign of slow, elegant maturation. On the nose, lemon curd, white peach, almond blossom, and hints of chamomile give way to soft oxidative tones like raw hazelnut and lanolin. The palate is where the magic unfolds: a zippy freshness followed by creamy roundness, mineral drive, and a long, savoury finish.

This is not your average aged white. The 2007 Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay is a conversation starter, a sommelier’s wildcard, and a rare opportunity to experience aged unoaked Chardonnay with personality.

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Pale straw with golden hues, slight amber rim.

• Nose: Fresh lemon zest, peach skin, green apple, wildflowers, almond, and soft herbal notes.

• Palate: Lively acidity, silky mid-palate, citrus and melon, chalky minerality, aged nutty creaminess.

• Finish: Dry, clean, and persistent with citrus pith and savoury finesse.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The versatility of the 2007 Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay makes it a dream with food. It’s crisp enough to handle rich sauces and creamy enough to elevate lighter fare. We recommend pairing it with:

• Hainanese Chicken Rice – the citrus and herbs dance with chilli and poached chicken.

• Grilled Scallops with Lemon Butter – mirroring the wine’s silky-meets-zesty vibe.

• Charred Broccolini with Parmesan and Pine Nuts

• Roast Chicken with Fennel and Garlic

• Camembert or Brie on warm sourdough

It also makes a surprising companion to Thai mango salad, balancing spice with freshness.

 Accolades

• 91 Points – Australian Wine Companion

• James Halliday: “A confident expression of unoaked Chardonnay — honest and uncompromised.”

• Regional Highlight – McLaren Vale Tasting Showcase

• Featured in “Top Australian Whites Without Oak” (2009)

Vineyard & Terroir

The fruit for this Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay comes from hillside vineyards in the Onkaparinga subregion of McLaren Vale, overlooking the ocean. The cooling maritime influence and limestone-rich soils bring vitality, aromatic lift, and tension to the wine. The grapes are hand-harvested and gently pressed, ensuring minimal skin contact and maximum expression of terroir.

By choosing stainless steel over oak, Chapel Hill lets this pristine fruit take centre stage — a decision that continues to pay off with every year in bottle.

Why We Like It

Because not all aged wines wear wood. The 2007 Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay is like the minimalist painting that steals the entire gallery — it’s all about precision, shape, and the details. Unoaked and unfiltered, it’s refreshingly different, yet timeless. And let’s be honest — how often do you find an unoaked white that’s over 15 years old and still full of life?

It’s cool without trying, like that friend who brings obscure records to the party and somehow always pairs wine with weirdly perfect snacks. A true Vin Geek find.

 Looking for More?

Explore our full White Wine Collection to find clean, textured, and food-friendly wines that don’t play by the rules. https://www.vingeek.sg/white-wine/
Or dive deeper into the story behind the bottle at the Chapel Hill official website.