Cherubino Folklore Chardonnay 2025

Reviews and Accolades

90 Points – Ray Jordan

“Light, to medium-bodied chardonnay, but one that has good fruit weight and flavour intensity. It captures the edgy citrus and white peach notes of the variety on the nose, and then delivers with a slightly creamy texture, brimming with stone fruit and a sprinkle of spices to lift. Nice, fine acidity sustains the focus.”

Erin Larkin

The Wine Advocate

“Exciting stuff. It blows a hole in my ‘there’s no good cheap Chardonnay’ theory.”

This neatly captures the appeal of Folklore Chardonnay. It offers the freshness and drinkability expected at its price while delivering an unusual level of winemaking detail and flavour.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Pale straw with youthful green-gold highlights.
• Aromatics: Bright citrus and white peach lead the nose, followed by fresh stone fruit and a delicate suggestion of spice.
• Palate: Light to medium-bodied, with more fruit weight and intensity than its delicate structure initially suggests.
• Fruit: White peach, nectarine and citrus flavours fill the palate without becoming broad or overly ripe.
• Texture: Slightly creamy through the middle, providing softness and generosity alongside the fresh fruit.
• Oak: Seasoned French oak contributes restrained spice and texture rather than strong woody or vanilla flavours.
• Acidity: Fine, lively acidity maintains focus and prevents the creamy texture from feeling heavy.
• Finish: Fresh and balanced, with lingering stone fruit, citrus and a gentle savoury-spice character.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2025
• Variety: Chardonnay
• Region: Western Australia
• Fruit sources: Pemberton, Porongurup and Margaret River
• Producer: Cherubino Wines
• Range: Folklore
• Fermentation: Fermented in one and two-year-old French oak
• Maturation: Matured for 10 months before bottling
• Body: Light to medium-bodied
• Style: Fruit-driven, lightly creamy and finely structured
• Cellaring: Up to five years
• Suggested drinking window: Now to approximately 2030
• Serving temperature: Approximately 10°C

Fermented in Seasoned French Oak

Cherubino Folklore Chardonnay is fermented in one and two-year-old French oak barrels. Fermenting Chardonnay in barrel creates more interaction between the wine, yeast lees and oak than fermentation in a stainless-steel tank. This can give the finished wine a rounder texture and bring the flavours together more seamlessly. Because the barrels are seasoned rather than new, the oak contribution remains restrained. Instead of tasting strongly woody or heavily toasted, the wine gains a gentle creaminess and a subtle sprinkle of spice. This is why the Chardonnay can feel textured and satisfying while still tasting predominantly of fresh citrus, white peach and stone fruit.

A Modern, Balanced Style of Chardonnay

Cherubino Folklore Chardonnay sits comfortably between two extremes. It is not an austere, sharply acidic Chardonnay with very little texture. It is also not an old-fashioned, heavily oaked wine dominated by butter, vanilla and toast. Instead, it offers bright fruit, moderate body and a gentle creaminess. The oak works quietly in the background, adding texture and spice while the citrus, white peach and stone fruit remain clearly defined. This makes it a particularly useful Chardonnay for mixed groups. It has enough freshness for drinkers who prefer crisp white wine, but enough texture and flavour for those who enjoy a richer style.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve Cherubino Folklore Chardonnay at approximately 10°C. Avoid serving it extremely cold, as this can hide the peach, stone-fruit and subtle spice characters. If the bottle has been stored in a standard refrigerator, take it out approximately 10 minutes before pouring.
• The wine does not require decanting. However, allowing it to sit in the glass for several minutes will help the fruit and gentle oak-derived aromas open.
• It is ready to enjoy now and is particularly appealing while its citrus and white peach characters remain bright. Ray Jordan suggests that it can be cellared for five years, during which time the fruit should become rounder and the creamy, savoury elements more noticeable.

Food Pairing 

• Roast chicken: The wine’s stone fruit and creamy texture suit roast chicken, while its acidity refreshes the palate.
• Grilled fish: Try it with barramundi, snapper or salmon served with lemon and fresh herbs.
• Prawns and scallops: The Chardonnay’s citrus freshness complements shellfish, while its texture stands up to richer sauces.
• Creamy pasta: Fine acidity balances dishes made with cream, Parmesan or soft cheeses.
• Pork: Roast pork, pork tenderloin or lightly spiced pork dishes work well with the wine’s peach and spice characters.
• Roasted vegetables: Pair it with cauliflower, pumpkin, sweet potato or roasted root vegetables.
• Soft cheeses: Brie, Camembert and mild washed-rind cheeses complement its gentle creaminess.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cherubino Folklore Chardonnay 2025 dry?

Yes. This is a dry Chardonnay. Its white peach and stone-fruit flavours may create an impression of generosity, but the wine is not noticeably sweet. Fine acidity keeps the finish fresh and balanced.

Is this a heavily oaked Chardonnay?

No. Although the wine is fermented and matured in French oak, the barrels are one and two years old rather than new. Seasoned barrels contribute less obvious oak flavour. Their main role here is to build texture and introduce a gentle spice character without covering the fruit.

Is it a buttery Chardonnay?

It has a slightly creamy texture, but it is not a heavily buttery or overly rich style. The citrus, white peach and fine acidity remain prominent, giving the wine a fresher and more modern profile.

What does fine acidity mean?

Acidity creates freshness and the mouthwatering sensation you experience after taking a sip.

“Fine acidity” means that the freshness is well integrated and controlled rather than sharp or sour. It gives the wine focus and balances its creamy texture.

Why is the 90-point score significant?

A score of 90 points indicates a wine of very good quality. That result is particularly noteworthy here because Folklore Chardonnay is positioned as an affordable everyday release. It shows that value does not have to mean sacrificing flavour, balance or thoughtful winemaking.

Where does the fruit come from?

The Chardonnay fruit is sourced from vineyards in Pemberton, Porongurup and Margaret River. Using several regions allows the winemaker to combine cool-climate freshness with stone-fruit weight, texture and flavour intensity.

How long can I cellar it?

Up to five years.

Stored somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable, it should drink well through approximately 2030. Over time, expect the fresh fruit to become rounder and the creamy, savoury elements to become more noticeable.