PLEASE NOTE

• Tasting notes for the 2002 Cabernets and 2003 Chardonnay and younger vintages were written at their respective times of release (please see below).

• Tasting notes for the 2001 Cabernets and 2002 Chardonnay and older were updated in 2003, following a major vertical tasting held at the winery that year.

• Recommended drinking times are for wine that is stored in optimum cellaring conditions. Recommended drinking times and wine scores updated in 2026.

CABERNETS

2023 Cabernets  |  96 Points  |  Drink: 2033 to 2044 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2024:

Perfumed nose of floral, violet aromas with mulberry and black olive fruits, and hints of cedar. While still medium-bodied, it is a slightly riper, richer wine, reflective of the great vintage. Fresh black fruits of dark cherry, mulberry and olives, cradled by stylish French oak and showing the typical length and persistence of a great Lake’s Folly Cabernets.

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2022 'Folly Red Blend' |  95 Points  |  Drink: 2031 to 2035 (updated 2026)

*No Cabernet Sauvignon in this Red Blend

Blend of Shiraz 47%, Merlot 34%, and Petit Verdot 19%. 

Tasting Notes at release time - 2024:

Bright, lifted fruits of mulberries and hints of cedary oak. This wine is clean and vibrant with lovely richness from generous fruits; again, mulberries dominate the palate. Wonderful balance, perfect supporting French oak and fine-grained tannins – yum! Lovely as a young wine, though should also imagine it as a great 10+ years prospect - even without its typical Cabernet component.  Alcohol 13.0%

*Lake's Folly Cabernet is the last variety to ripen on our estate, and the last grapes to be harvested each year - the arrival of late rain towards the very end of our 2022 harvest period resulted in the loss of our Cabernet grapes, for the first time in Lake's Folly's history.

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2021 Cabernets  |  95 Points  |  Drink: 2031 to 2040 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2023:

Lifted blueberry, raspberry and fresh cherry aromas with hints of liquorice and black pepper, which carry over to the palate. A medium-bodied style, it is classy and nicely balanced, with a lovely tannin-to-fruit-sweetness ratio, which creates a textural, stylish wine.

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2020 Cabernets  |  95 Points  |  Drink: 2030 to 2035 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2022:

Another strong vintage following on from 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dark, ripe fruits dominate the nose and palate – blackberry and mulberry, along with hallmark Lake’s Folly cedar tones (derived from the fruit, not the oak). Soft, supple, generous style from another drought year. Lovely balanced oak rounds out, and complements, the wine.

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2019 Cabernets  |  96 Points  |  Drink: 2029 to 2040 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2021:

Great Hunter characters of cedar, cigar box and earth with black cherry, liquorice, and blackcurrant aromas. The palate is fine, but has power. Classy, stylish, with great length of flavour; a long-living wine with great oak support and fine tannins. An outstanding vintage.

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2018 Cabernets  |  96 Points  |  Drink: 2030 to 2035 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2020:

Clean, vibrant lifted blackcurrant and black cherry aromas with perfumed violet hints. Palate is generous and the pristine red and black berry fruits flow over the palate with fine tannins and elegant oak supporting a sensationally balanced and long-living Cabernet.

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2017 Cabernets  |  96 Points  |  Drink: 2030 to 2035 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2019:

Vibrant, fresh red and black fruits - mostly black cherry, blackcurrant and plums, with underlying aromas of forest floor and hints of cedar.  The palate is incredibly stylish and complex, with primary red and black fruits dominant.  Medium-bodied, stylish, complete wine with its traditional long finish.  Benchmark Folly!

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2016 Cabernets  |  95 Points  |  Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2018:

On the nose, red berry fruits of dark cherry with hints of white pepper, integrate with perfectly-balanced new and seasoned French oak. 
The palate is medium bodied; red berry fruits dominate, with a perfect balance of fruit sweetness. Stylish, structured elegant tannin profile, and hallmark length of flavour.

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2015 Cabernets  |  93 Points  |  Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2017:

Deep brick red colour, with aromas of dark fruits like black cherry, hints of violets, liquorice and charred oak. The palate is soft and generous for a medium-bodied wine. Blackberry fruits flow onto the palate – the wine has its trademark length of flavour and excellent fruit sweetness and balance.

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2014 Cabernets  |  95 Points  |  Drink: Now to 2035 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2016:

Magnificent nose of ripe black fruits – especially blackberry. Hints of Christmas cake, dark fruits with subtle hints of violets (from the Petit Verdot) and cedar (from the Cabernet fruit – not the oak!).  The palate is elegant with restrained power – this is a classy wine – stylish, long palate, seamless with lovely structure and balance. It will age for a very long time and be one of the great vintages in years to come, I have little doubt.

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2013 Cabernets  |  95 Points  |  Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2015:

Lifted perfumed nose of red cherries and cassis, with scents of violets and charry cedar.  It is clean, pure and vibrant. The palate is silky and smooth, with fine seamless tannins, and great mid-palate sweetness and a long finish.

A medium bodied style reminiscent of the great ‘93 vintage.  This wine will show its full potential in 10-12 years when it will be graceful and stylish – not unlike a great Burgundy.

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2012 Cabernets  |  92 Points  |  Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2014:

Aromas of clean lifted red berry fruits, like red currant and raspberry, and a hint of dusty cigar box.  An elegant, stylish wine of great finesse and balance.

While the weight of the wine may be slightly lighter than usual, make no mistakes, this is still a very impressive wine with lovely fruit sweetness and the typical Lake’s Folly stamp of length of flavour and persistence.  In a year like 2012, this wine is testament to the fact that growing Cabernet in the Hunter wasn’t such a ‘folly’ after all!

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2011 Cabernets  |  96+ Points  |  Drink:  Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2013:

Season – Excellent growing conditions. Colour – Deep red with a purple hue.
Nose – Incredibly lifted nose, black cherries and chocolate, and hints of plums.
Palate – The palate is rich, soft and silky with perfect soft tannins, even at this stage. Fruit dominant palate of delicious black cherries, plums and hints of cigar box and slight earthiness. Oak is supportive but not apparent. An outstanding vintage that will rank amongst the greatest Cabernets made here. Alcohol – 13.0%

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2010 Cabernets  |  92 Points  |  Drink:  Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2012:

Season – Excellent growing conditions; some late rain. Colour – Brick red. Nose – Aromas of dark fruits, black cherry and blackberry, with hints of charred oak and coffee.
Palate – The palate is deceptive in that it is elegant but has definite underlying power. Recent tastings have proven this wine improves after being opened for a day or event longer, which confirms my thoughts that it will open up into something special in a few years' time and have great longevity, as usual. Alcohol – 12.7%

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2009 Cabernets | 95 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2011:

Season – Excellent growing season and vintage conditions.
Colour – Dark red with a purple hue. Nose – Vibrant lifted cherry and dark chocolate aromas with hints of toasted oak. Palate – The palate has lovely clean, sweet fruit flavours of cherry, blackcurrant and white pepper. Soft tannins and a wonderful acid balance complement what must be one of the best Cabernets made here in the past decade. A structured, stylish wine that drinks well now, but will mature beautifully. Alcohol – 13.0%

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2008 'Folly Red' | 91 Points | Drink: Now  (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2010:

100% Cabernet Sauvignon (Declassified)

Season – The 2008 vintage was a challenge; persistent summer rains, low temperatures and high humidity levels tested us all. While the whites came off relatively unscathed, red varieties in the Hunter struggled – with one exception: Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2008 vintage saw only the best of our Cabernet grapes hold up and, as a result, the 2008 vintage is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon – only 1000 dozen was made.
Colour – Brick red. Nose – Aromas of cherries and plums with hints of rose petal and cedar. Palate – Soft, stylish and elegant with cherry and plum fruits flowing through. Good supporting oak and nice acid structure ensure this typical Lake's Folly red will go the distance and surprise many in years to come. Alcohol – 12.0%

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2007 Cabernets | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2009:

Season – The 2007 vintage was a good one. The seventh straight year of drought, saw lower yields but produced wines with great intensity of flavour with no compromise to their balance and finesse.
Colour – Dense brick red colour with a light purple hue. Nose – Sweet berry aromas of blackberry, cherry and a hint of dark chocolate. Palate – Velvety soft, with dominant berry characters; will complex over time and develop into a great wine. Alcohol – 13.0%

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2006 Cabernets | 93 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2008:

Season – The 2006 vintage was a good one. Still in the grip of drought, the summer didn’t have quite the prolonged intensity of heat we saw from the previous vintages. A dry harvest period also assisted in getting the grapes to their optimum maturity.
Colour – Deep red.
Nose – Aromas of black cherry, mulberry and chocolate – similar to black forest cake.
Palate – Soft and rich; medium-bodied in weight and, whilst the tannins are typically soft, it has a great length of flavour. A stylish complete wine that will age in the usual way.
Alcohol – 13.0%

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2005 Cabernets | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2007:

Season – Mild and dry, well timed rains pre-budburst and at veraison. Perfect ripening and picking conditions. Colour – Vibrant brick red. Nose – Wonderful fruits of fresh black cherries, raspberries and blackberries with a hint of dark chocolate. The oak is so well integrated and assists in the tightness and complexity of the wine.
Palate – Excellent, fresh clean berry fruits burst onto the palate; it is smooth and seamless with just a touch of clean acidity that will ensure this wine lives for a good two decades. Soft tannins with a great length of flavour and persistence – an excellent vintage.
Alcohol – 13%

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2004 Cabernets | 92 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2006:

Season – Very good growing and vintage conditions. Dry harvest. Colour – Vibrant brick red. Nose – Displays cherry, violets and some mocha coffee aromas.
Palate – Fantastic. Perfect balance and great fruit sweetness. A very classy, elegantly structured style that drinks so well even right now, but will age gracefully for up to 20 years from date of release (released in 2006). Alcohol – 12%

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2003 Cabernet | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2005:

Season – Drought, excellent. Colour – Deep crimson with purple hues.
Nose – Quite strong black fruits of blackberry and black cherry. Displays layers of complexity as do all great wines. Some leathery tones, cedar and lovely oak support.
Palate – Ripe blackberry and black cherry fruits. Rich style that still displays elegance and finesse though with good power and balance. Tannins will settle more with time. Alcohol – 12.5%

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2002 Cabernet | 93 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2004:

Season – Great growing season, some early vintage rain. Colour – Deep brick red.
Nose – Cedary, blackberry and plums, some leather. Palate – Soft, elegant and balanced. A fine style displaying finesse and structure with wonderful fruit sweetness in the mid-palate.
Alcohol – 12.6%

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2001 Cabernet Blend | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated in 2003:

Season – Good growing season, rain at vintage. Colour – Crimson with purple hue.
Nose – Lovely berry characters (cherry and blackberry) integrate with floral aromas of violets, sweet oak and a touch of cedary leather.
Palate – Some initial berry sweetness, but mid-palate is quite savoury with tannins slightly drying. Not a huge wine, but a structured, tight style that will integrate and improve with time. Definitely a long living wine. Alcohol – 12.7 %

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2000 Cabernet Blend | 96+ Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Excellent. Colour – Deep crimson with purple hues. Nose – Rich berry fruits dominate, predominantly blackberry and blackcurrant. Cedar, some chocolate – complex and rich. Palate – Follows on from the nose. Rich berry fruits, soft, beautifully structured palate, sweet fruit perfectly balanced. A great wine with concentration of flavours harmoniously balanced. A classic Lake's Folly – one of the best. Alcohol – 14.5 %

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1999 Cabernet Blend | 94 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Very good. Colour – Excellent, a vibrant brick red with no dulling or browning.
Nose – Distinctly Hunter, with leather and earth floor tones, but still displaying good primary fruits of black cherry and raspberry, coupled with sweet cedar and cigar box aromas.
Palate – Savoury, stylish and youthful, the tannins have settled down considerably on this wine – now fine-grained and chewy. Primary fruits of blackberry are still evident, but beginning to give way to more complexed bottle development. Remarkably good drinking at present considering in its mid-life phase, this wine will of course improve further and  potential to drink magnificently well into the 2030s. Alcohol – 13.2 % 

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1998 Cabernet Blend | 95 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Hot and dry, but very good. Colour – Deep crimson with just a hint of dulling off on edges. Nose – Complex. Strong blackcurrant lifted fruit nose. Some leathery cigar box characters. Liquorice allsorts. Some cedar.
Palate – Wonderful. Perfect balance of fruit sweetness and savoury balance. Complex, interesting wine of considerable pedigree. Ripe tannins and careful oak usage creates an almost perfect wine. Outstanding! Alcohol – 13.1 %

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1997 Cabernets | 92 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Wet vintage. Colour – Crimson–ruby red. Nose – Berry aromas dominate. Leathery, earthy with slightly herbaceous undertones and some vanillin oak.
Palate – Lighter, finer style, lacking a little mid palate weight, but lovely structure and length of flavour. A touch Burgundian. Some slightly shaded fruit characters (similar to some Coonawarra Cabernets), but dominated by Hunter – leather, tobacco, earth. The '97s (both red and white) seem rapid developers, and I question its long-term cellaring potential (ie past 2010). Close to drinking well even now in 2003 (recommended to drink before the '96 vintages). Alcohol – 13.0 %

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1996 Cabernets | 96+ Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Excellent. Colour – Deep crimson. Nose – Blackberry, black cherry and plums. Cedar, oak balanced, some earthy tones. Palate – Rich. Fruit displays perfect balance between fruit sweetness and savoury elegance. Ripe tannins, complex and integrated. One of the greatest vintages by which the others may be judged; an absolute classic, wow! Recommended best drinking from 2005, at earliest. Alcohol – 13.9 %

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1995 Cabernets | 93 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Severe drought. Colour – Deep garnet–crimson. Nose – Light blackberry fruit. New wood apparent with some tea leaf / tobacco leaf aromas. Tomato bush.
Palate – Strong concentration of fruit – savoury with slightly drying tannins. Some jammy fruit flavours cause the wine to be slightly forward and finish a little short. Still a very enjoyable wine. Alcohol – 12.0 %

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1994 Cabernets | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Dry. Colour – Deep crimson. Nose – Berry lift. Some leathery development and forest floor tones. Cashews and violets. Palate – Lovely balance and development. Ripe tannins and good length of flavour. Still some cherry / berry characters, but giving way to additional aged complex characters. Drinking well from 2003 onwards. Alcohol – 12.4 %

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1993 Cabernet | 94 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Dry, late vintage. Colour – Brick red. Nose – Burgundy. Tomato bush. Some herbal and leather tones. Palate – Fine. A delicately structured wine – a little Burgundian with great length of flavour. Not a big wine but nice intensity. Drinking wonderfully at present. Alcohol – 12.2 %

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1992 Cabernet | 88 Points | Drink: Now/some bast best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Growing season very dry, but wet vintage. Colour – Medium brick red–crimson.
Nose – Canned bean, slightly cooked confectionary, Christmas cake aromas.
Palate – A lighter style with red berry fruits. Displays some “flesh” but finishes a little short.
Alcohol – 12.0 %

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1991 Cabernet | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Hot, dry. Colour – Brick red, slight brown hue. Nose – Leathery, slightly iodide, gamey, earthy / tobacco. Some Christmas cake. Complex.
Palate – Good fruit sweetness with cedary tones. Lighter than expected for a '91. Drinking well at present, very savoury with a long finish. Tannins were out of balance for a considerable time, but settling down now. Larger format bottles (magnums) recommended drinking from 2006 onwards. Alcohol – 12.0 %

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1990 Cabernet | 92 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Wet vintage. Colour – Brick red. Nose – Tomato bush, cedar, some slightly leafy aromas. Palate – Great wine from a difficult year. Good fruit sweetness, but also displays a lovely savoury tone. Drinking beautifully at present. Some chocolate berry characters with leathery persistence. Alcohol – 12.0 %

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1989 Cabernet | 96+ Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Good, reduced crop. Colour – Brick red, slight brown developed hue.
Nose – Gamey, leathery, earth, touch volatility, some menthol.
Palate – Big fruit with a slight hole in mid-palate. Quite gamey almost dirty, complex characters. Nice drinking, but requires good aeration at decanting.
NB: Magnum of this recently was outstanding – fruit sweet, complex, long palate. Have adjusted score accordingly (from its original score on release in 1991). Alcohol – 12.9 %

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1988 Cabernet | 92 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Wet, good. Nose – Sweet fruit aromas, some leathery tobacco aromas – complex.
Palate – Sweet fruit is balanced and rich. Elegant style with complexity and fine-grained tannins. Burgundy meets Bordeaux! Alcohol – 12.5 %

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1987 Cabernet | 92 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Growing season – Excellent. Colour – Brick red. Nose – Earthy, dusty and 'Huntery'.
Palate – Concentrated with elegance. Sweet fruit, Christmas cake characters. Great balance and intensity. Not possible to get any better (written in 2003). Balanced, complex and structured. Alcohol – 11.8 %

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1986 Cabernet | 85 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Very good. Colour is medium red, with brown hue. Nose – Sweet oak lift, though more dominated by cedary, earthy, leather tones, touch musty.
Palate – Some fruit sweetness, but mostly an elegant wine with nice balance and complexity. There appears to be an issue with some bottles of this wine with a musty, earthy, dank character. Uncertain if it is possible there was a higher incidence of poor (tainted) corks from the batch used for this vintage bottling. Good bottles drink very well – they show good structure, and holding up well. Alcohol – 12.2 %

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1985 Cabernet | 92 Points | Drink: Now/some past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Good growing season, some hail. Colour – Medium brick red. Nose – Slightly closed, but some olive / cherry and Christmas cake aromas. Palate – Sweet fruit, aged, balanced, lovely old Folly – at its peak! Touch of acidity is evident, but tight-grained ripe tannins finish well. Alcohol – 12.2 %

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1984 Cabernet | 75 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Wet. Colour – Browning off. Nose – Some aged leathery hunter tones.
Palate – Thin. Most Follys typically display elegance and finesse, however this wine is a product of the season and unfortunately does not deliver as consistently as other vintages. Some redeeming qualities but, disappointingly, past its best.

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1983 Cabernet | 90 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Excellent. Colour – Medium crimson, browning off. Nose – Strong regional Hunter characters with red berry fruits. Unfortunately, some mercaptans, but also some lovely earthy, forest floor aromas. Palate – Excellent aged Folly. Tightly structured with a still sweet fruit palate – great complex aged wine. Alcohol – 12.0 %

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1982 Cabernet | 87 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Drink – Now/some past their best. Season – Good. Colour – Brick red, browning off.
Nose – Menthol, almost methoxypyrazine characters. Confectionary fruit. American oak.
Palate – Slightly lacks intensity on front palate but finishes long and savoury. A lovely, slightly finer wine. Alcohol – 11.0 %

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1981 Cabernet | 91 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Drought. Colour – Deep crimson. Nose – Cedar / leather. Strong Hunter characters. Palate – Velvety structure, sweet fruit, length, balance, finesse! Solid tannins will ensure good bottles will last a while yet. Lovely old wine. Alcohol – 11.3 %

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1980 Cabernet | 92 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Dry, very good. Colour – Crimson, slight browning. Nose – Lovely aged 'Huntery' characters, but so much more. Fruits, tomato bush, cedar etc. Palate – Elegance, softness of structure, complex, lovely – great! Alcohol – 11.3 %

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1975 Cabernet | 85 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Good. Colour – Brick red, slight browning. Nose – Nice Burgundian, tomato bush aromas. Touch leathery and 'Huntery'. Slight VA.
Palate – Rich mid-palate, but a touch simple. Still good fruit sweetness in the pinot spectrum and holding together well. Well integrated but lacks some intensity. Tannins still firm. An elegant wine.

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1972 Cabernet | 95 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes updated 2003:

Season – Good. Colour – Aged browning – no oxidation. Nose – Forest floor, funky aromas. Strong Hunter dominance 'sweaty saddle', leather, mushroom.
Palate – For those bottles not past their best, this wine is remarkable! Displays all the layers of complexity expected from a great old Lake's Folly.

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CHARDONNAY

2024 Chardonnay | 96 Points | Drink: Now to 2036 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2025:

Clean, lifted pear and tropical fruit nose, with subtle hints of vanilla. The palate is soft and textural with pure pear-driven fruits that, combined with regular stirring of the yeast lees in barrel, creates a silky, seamless mouthfeel. Ripe Chardonnay fruit is generous and with perfectly-balanced but soft acidity, delivering the hallmark length and persistence that Lake’s Folly wines are famous for.

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2023 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2036 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2024:

Intense pear and white peach aromas with hints of lemon peel, supported by finest quality French oak. The palate displays its hallmark traits of great line and length of flavour, with pear fruits also dominating the palate. It is structured and classy, medium-weight with seamless well-integrated oak and a long, stylish acidity. A wine for the ages – drink while young or cellar for 10 to 12 years, easily. Alcohol 14.0%.

 

 

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2022 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2035 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2023:

Colour is golden straw. Nose shows lifted fruits of peach, pear juice and citrus, with hints of spice and dried oats. The palate is tight and fine, with the same fruits of peach and pear juice coming through, along with subtle but perfectly-integrated French oak. Elegant, stylish, with great acidity to give length and persistence.

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2021 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2031 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2022:

White peach and light vanillin oak, with hints of oatmeal and tropical fruits on the nose. The palate is quite generous and textural from the barrel fermentation, and shows flavours of ripe white peach and subtle lemon curd. Soft acidity and great persistence of flavour; it will continue to improve over the coming decade and beyond.

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2020 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2021:

Traditional Folly nose of white stone fruit and ripe peach, with perfect subtle oak influence. Nowadays, we are using more large-format oak, and it shows in the elegance; but make no mistake, this is a rich, opulent wine, not unlike a great, big Burgundy!  Glycerol roundness, but still hallmark length of flavour. An earlier-drinking style, to be enjoyed now, and for the next 3–5 years after release date (released in 2021).

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2019 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2020:

Stone fruits and minerality are instantly apparent along with some tropical fruits with hints of passionfruit and vanilla bean. The palate is stylish – again, stone fruits dominate, but there is a complexity and richness of fruit that culminate in a classy classic style of Lake’s Folly Chardonnay, reminiscent of a good Burgundy. A long-living wine – 15+ years' cellaring (after release time - released 2020).

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2018 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2019:

Initially subtle nose (owing to its youth) - with 'air' and time, the wine opens up to display white peach, apple and tropical aromas.  The palate is seamless, displaying ripe Chardonnay flavours with wonderful texture and generosity.  Lovely French oak cradles the fruit perfectly, and allows the wine to finish with a chalky minerality that will improve immeasurably over time, with cellaring.

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2017 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now to 2030 (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2018:

Nose – White stone fruits with hints of yeasty brioche and some minerality.  Subtle, perfectly balanced French oak. 
Palate – Tight and fine structure with incredible acid line running through the wine. White peach fruits dominate, with hints of citrus. The perfect balance of fruit to acid on this wine will see it have the potential to cellar for 10 - 15 years+ after release (released in 2018).  An excellent wine that will reward cellaring.

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2016 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2017:

Colour is light straw, the nose has creamy peach aromas, subtle oak and a hint of fresh lime. The palate is a finer style with peach and oatmeal characters. At release time, the wine is more refined and lean in style, but with time will display its typical creamy richness. Definitely a fruit-driven style that will live for many years.

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2015 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2016:

Golden straw in colour. Lifted perfumed aromas of white peach and some lightly charred oak.  Bready, yeasty aromas from the extended lees contact in French oak.  On the palate, white peach fruit dominates; it is creamy, seamless and well-rounded.  This wine can be enjoyed right now or allowed to develop complexity, with proper cellaring, for up to 10 years after release (released in 2016).

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2014 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2015:

2014 was touted by many as the greatest Hunter Valley vintage in recent history.  The 2014 Chardonnay displays peach aromas with a hint of marzipan. The palate is rich and juicy, with a lovely creamy texture and nice supporting French oak.  A fruit-driven style that highlights the terroir traits for which Lake’s Folly has become famous (style, structure, finesse, length).  Drinks well now; even better 5-10 years after release (released in 2015).

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2013 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2014:

Typical Folly. Clean peach/stone fruit aromas. The palate is generous, with a creamy texture from the lees contact during fermentation in French oak. Slightly lower percentage of new oak for this vintage than usual (around 25% Vs 33%), means the oak is barely seen, but cradles the fruit magnificently, allowing the terroir of this great vineyard to show through. There is a roundness and richness on this wine and as always, wonderful length of flavour. A great wine! Alcohol 13.0%

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2012 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Notes at release time - 2013:

Season – Good growing season; wet vintage.
Colour – Straw with a green tinge.
Nose – Fantastic nose; clean, fruit-driven with white peach and a hint of citrus.
Palate – The palate weight is fine and elegant but retains a creamy texture. Oak is subtle and extremely well integrated and a great acid balance assists in its hallmark length of flavour. Alcohol – 13.0%

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2011 Chardonnay | 96 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2012:

Season – Good growing season; dry vintage.
Colour – Golden yellow with a green hue.
Nose – Aromas of white peach with a hint of lime.
Palate – Typical creamy mid-palate texture from yeast lees contact and barrel fermentation, and its usual hallmark great length of flavour. Alcohol – 14.0%

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2010 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2011:

Season – Good growing season; some late vintage rain.
Colour – Light gold.
Nose – Lifted, clean aromas of citrus and stone fruit.
Palate – Fine and beautifully integrated. Stone fruit characters mesh with a creamy textural mouth feel from its time spent on yeast lees in barrel. Wonderful balance and length of flavour, as are the hallmarks of this Chardonnay. Alcohol – 13.5%

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2009 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2010:

Season – Excellent growing season; ideal vintage conditions provided an outstanding year.
Colour – Golden in colour.
Nose – Aromas of white peach and hints of tropical fruits and charred oak.
Palate – The palate displays a creamy texture that is silky smooth and very stylish. As always, great balance, structure and persistence of flavour. Alcohol – 14.0%

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2008 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: Now (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2009:

Season – Good spring rain gave promise for a good vintage, but the rains were persistent and that, combined with lower temperatures and high humidity, resulted in a challenging and difficult vintage. That said, the cooler conditions allowed for excellent acid retention and resulted in a Chardonnay more Chablis in style than Burgundian, with the usual hallmark great length of flavour.
Colour – Yellow –gold in colour with a green hue.
Nose – Ripe white peach and lychees, complemented by elegant perfumed French oak.
Palate – Rich and creamy from the barrel fermentation and extended lees contact. Extremely well balanced, the white peach characters follow through with lingering persistence. Alcohol – 14.0%

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2007 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: May be past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2008:

Season – The 2007 vintage was a good one. The seventh straight year of drought, saw lower yields but produced wines with great intensity of flavour with no compromise to their balance and finesse.
Colour – Yellow –gold in colour with a green hue.
Nose – Ripe white peach and lychees, complemented by elegant perfumed French oak.
Palate – Rich and creamy from the barrel fermentation and extended lees contact. Extremely well balanced, the white peach characters follow through with lingering persistence. Alcohol – 14.0%

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2006 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: May be past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2007:

Season – The 2006 vintage was a good one. Still in the grip of drought, the summer didn’t have quite the prolonged intensity of heat we saw from the previous vintages. A dry harvest period also assisted in getting the grapes to their optimum maturity.
Colour – Straw with green hue.
Nose – Aromas of lychees and stone-fruit, with a touch of oak.
Palate – Seamless with great structure and balance. Primary fruits meshing with complex barrel ferment characters and balanced oak make for a very enjoyable chardonnay – almost Burgundian in style. Alcohol – 13.5%

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2005 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: May be past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2006:

Season – Mild and dry, well timed rains pre-budburst and at veraison. Perfect ripening and picking conditions.
Colour – Golden with a green hue.
Nose – Complex, minerally with stone fruits (peaches mostly) and some sweet lifted oak aromas.

Palate – Rich and mouth filling, dominated by ripe peach flavours. A creamy, rich style, reminiscent of the 2000 vintage – it has plenty to offer in terms of flavour and complexity. Alcohol – 14%

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2004 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: May be past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2005:

Season – Very good growing and vintage conditions. Dry harvest.
Colour – Straw with a vibrant green hue.
Nose – Aroma of pristine white peach fruit.
Palate – Seamless – a tightly structured wine of great pedigree with a long rich finish. Alcohol – 13.5%

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2003 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: May be past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note at release time - 2004:

Season – Drought, excellent.
Colour – Golden, slight green hue.
Nose – Minerally peach nose accompanied by sweet perfumed oak.
Palate – Rich, peachy fruit fills the front palate. Perfectly balanced, silky smooth with great length and persistence of flavour. Alcohol – 13.7 %

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2002 Chardonnay | 92 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasing Note updated in 2003:

Season – Good growing season, some vintage rain.

Colour – Light golden, green hue.
Nose – Buttery, with peach and pear. Oak is sweet and integrated. Quite fruit dominant.
Palate – Rich fruit has nice balance and persistence of flavour. More pear and peach fruits, some nutty oak. Well-balanced typical Folly style. A tight, focused style. Alcohol – 12.9 %

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2001 Chardonnay | 94 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated in 2003:

Season – Good growing season. Rain at vintage.
Colour – Straw gold, green hue.
Nose – Amazingly complex. Burgundian. Leesy, barrel fermentation characters mingle with nutty and pear fruits, some tropical characters. Nice!
Palate – Minerally, some passionfruit still evident but subduing with time, also pear and melon. Palate is fine and tight with great balance and structure. I underestimated this wine at release time, perhaps because it lacked the sheer power of the 2000, but while a much finer style, it is one of the best! Will be at its best from 2008 on. Alcohol – 12.7 %

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2000 Chardonnay | 96 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Excellent
Colour – Deep golden.
Nose – Rich powerful peach and lychees, with sweet nutty oak. Some butterscotch.
Palate – Wow! Rich, rich, rich. But not just a show pony. Powerful, well-balanced fruit (mostly peaches and fig), well-managed oak, complexity of flavours. Rich, viscous and great persistence of flavour. A great wine by any standards. Even though over 15% alcohol, no sign of imbalance or alcohol hotness or phenolics. Alcohol – 15.1 %

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1999 Chardonnay | 92 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasing Note updated 2003:

Season – Excellent
Colour – Wonderful aged golden.
Nose – Complex aged, buttery chardonnay fruit characters of peach, roasted nuts and honeysuckle.
Palate – Glorious with soft rich fruit – almost honeyed, it is seamless and Moorish. While it may complex even more with time it drinks magnificently right at present. A perfectly balanced, delightful wine. Alcohol – 13.1 %

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1998 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Noted updated 2003:

Season – Hot and dry, but very good.

Colour – Golden.
Nose – Limey, citrus rind, nutty oak, commencement of honeysuckle.
Palate – Quite traditional, old-fashioned Folly style. Fruit is nicely balanced – almost elegant. Restrained slightly simple style that is drinking at its best now. Some aged honeysuckle / toasty characters. Slight phenolics on finish are in balance and the wine has nice length and persistence. At its peak now (in 2003, when last reviewed by us). Alcohol – 13.1 %

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1997 Chardonnay | 90 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Wet vintage.
Colour – Developed golden.
Nose – Advanced, slightly aldehydic. Some lovely developed aromas of honeysuckle, toast and nuts.
Palate – Slightly finer style but nice richness of fruit still. Very toasty, honeyed. Has developed faster than its age would indicate and we would suggest drinking (in 2003, when this tasting note was updated), as will not improve from here. Alcohol – 13.0 %

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1996 Chardonnay | 96 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Excellent
Colour – Deep golden yellow.
Nose – Peachy, honeysuckle, sweet buttery oak, some minerally characters and toasty aromas – complex and promising of great things.
Palate – Follows on from nose, rich buttery glycerol palate with such intensity and complexity. Good bottles of this wine can sit proud amongst the best the world has to offer. An outstanding wine! Alcohol – 13.9 %

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1995 Chardonnay | 88 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Severe drought.
Colour – Deep golden yellow.
Nose – Slight confectionary/'lolly-ish'; a touch too developed - some toast.

Palate – Rich and generous, great acidity and persistence of ripe peachy fruit. Alcohol – 12.6 %

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1994 Chardonnay | 90 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Dry
Colour – Golden
Nose – Citrus, melon. Some toasty honeyed aromas, nuts and apricot.
Palate – A relatively uncomplicated wine. Nice line of flavour, fine tight style. Some melon, peach and apricot. Simple, but balanced and focused. May outlive our recommended drink times, but drinks well now (tasted 2003). Alcohol – 12 %

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1993 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Dry, very late vintage.
Colour – Golden with still a slight green tinge.

Nose – Citrus, lemon rind. Clean vibrant nose, some lanolin and light honeysuckle. Tight and elegant.
Palate – Elegant, fine, structured. Almost some aged 'Semillon-like' characters of lime and lanolin – great finesse. Alcohol – 12.5 %

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1991 Chardonnay | 92 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Drought.
Colour – Deep golden – slight browning.
Nose – Slightly maderised characters. Some honeyed peach aromas.
Palate – Full rich style – slightly past best but still good bottles drinking ok. Great length and persistence of flavour. Alcohol – 12.5 %

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1989 Chardonnay | 96 Points | Drink: Now/Some may be past best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Good
Colour – Lovely golden – youthful.
Nose – Light honeysuckle. Some melon.
Palate – Fine, tight palate. Long and balanced. Shows some honeysuckle richness, but mostly a very fine, structured tight style. Alcohol – 12.9 %

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1986 Chardonnay | 88 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Very good.
Colour – Honeyed golden.
Nose – Still displays fruit. Fine chardonnay characters, some nice aged complexity.
Palate – Nice aged wine, a touch elementary, but has aged gracefully. Still displaying sound fruit with good balance and good bottles may live some time yet; though it is unlikely they will improve any further. Alcohol – 12.7 %

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1983 Chardonnay | 93 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Excellent.
Colour – Golden yellow.
Nose – Stunning! Peachy, buttery and toasty. Complex and interesting.
Palate – Buttery and fruit rich. Elegant, fine style. Remarkable for a 20-yea-old Chardonnay – looks 8 yrs old! Alcohol – 12.7 %

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1974 Chardonnay | 95 Points | Drink: Past its best (updated 2026)

Tasting Note updated 2003:

Season – Wet
Colour – Golden – No sign of oxidation on this bottle – opened March 2003.
Nose – Honey, honeysuckle, slightly confectionary with nice oak still evident. Aged complexity at its best!
Palate – Very rich mid-palate, still shows acid. Honeyed, buttery, rich, complex, wonderful. A truly remarkable wine. Proves that with old wines, it is not so much a matter of great old vintages as great old bottles. This wine was amazing.