The Hilt Estate Chardonnay 2021

Sophie Brennan - Perfect summer evening wine

8/10

Drank this on the patio last weekend and it was just right. Really expressive nose, you can smell it as soon as you pour. At 12% you can have a couple of glasses without feeling rough the next day. Goes brilliantly with a chicken salad.

Elena Vasquez - Seriously impressive white

9/10

Picked this up for my wife's birthday dinner and wow. Really aromatic straight away, didn't need to sit around waiting for it to open up. Light and refreshing at 12% but somehow still has loads going on. We demolished the bottle before the main course even arrived.

Derek Chang - Decent but I expected more

7/10

Saw this on a wine list and thought I'd treat myself. It's nice — balanced, not too boozy, pleasant enough finish. But for what you're paying I wanted to be blown away and I wasn't quite. A bit more depth would've sealed it for me.

Herbert Muller - Great with fish, great without

8/10

Had this with grilled sea bass and it was perfect — the acidity cuts right through. Also had a glass on its own the next day and it held up just as well. Clean finish that doesn't hang around too long. Would happily buy again.

Oscar Delgado - Best Chardonnay I've had this year

10/10

I'm working my way through different Californian Chardonnays and this is top of the list so far. Everything is just in balance — the fruit, the acidity, nothing overpowers anything else. The finish lingers in this really satisfying way that keeps you sipping. Yes it's £56 but honestly it drinks like something more expensive.

Natalie Ford - Solid pick for a dinner party

8/10

Brought this to a friend's dinner party and everyone kept asking about it. It's got this lovely clean finish and doesn't feel heavy at all. The kind of wine that just disappears from the table without anyone noticing.

Grace Kim - The one that changed my mind about Chardonnay

9/10

I normally avoid Chardonnay because I find them too buttery and oaky. This is nothing like that. Really precise aromas, almost floral, and the low ABV means it drinks so easily. The wine shop guy recommended it and I'm glad I listened.

Marcus Chen - Nice but pricey

7/10

Look, it's a good Chardonnay. Well balanced, not heavy at all for a chard which I appreciated. But £56 is a lot and I've had bottles at half the price that come close. Would I buy it again? Probably not at full whack.