2025 L.A.S. Vino Southern Seas Chardonnay | Margaret River | 96 points

🏆 96 Points | The Son of Pierro's Legendary Founder Is Redefining Margaret River Chardonnay!

96 Points – The Wine Front

From Nic Peterkin, One of Australia's Most Inventive Young Winemakers!

2025 L.A.S. Vino Southern Seas Chardonnay

Margaret River, Western Australia

RRP $83

What happens when the son of one of Australia's greatest Chardonnay pioneers decides he wants to make wines that challenge convention rather than simply follow tradition?

You get L.A.S. Vino!

And what an extraordinary producer this is.

The man behind it?

Nic Peterkin.

Son of Dr Mike Peterkin, the legendary founder of Pierro.

Grandson of the family behind the celebrated Cullen wine story.

And one of the most interesting winemakers working in Margaret River today.

But here's what I love about Nic.

He isn't interested in simply making another version of his father's famous Chardonnay.

He wants to explore what Margaret River can do.

Different vineyards.

Different winemaking techniques.

Different expressions of Chardonnay.

And wines with genuine personality.

The 2025 Southern Seas Chardonnay is another fascinating example.

And the critics are impressed.

96 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT!

This is serious Chardonnay from one of Australia's most exciting independent winemakers.

L.A.S. Vino – Luck, Art and Science

Here's something many wine lovers wouldn't know.

The initials L.A.S. stand for:

Luck. Art. Science.

And that tells you an enormous amount about Nic Peterkin's approach to winemaking.

Luck is the part of winegrowing that nobody can completely control.

The weather.

The season.

The unpredictable nature of farming.

Art is the creativity involved in interpreting fruit and deciding what sort of wine it could become.

And science is the technical understanding needed to turn that vision into reality.

It's a wonderfully refreshing philosophy.

Because great wine isn't simply a formula.

It's a combination of vineyard, experience, imagination and judgement.

And Nic has made a career out of exploring that combination.

An Extraordinary Margaret River Wine Family

Nic Peterkin has wine in his blood.

His father, Dr Mike Peterkin, founded Pierro and helped establish Margaret River as one of Australia's great Chardonnay regions.

His mother, Shelley Cullen, comes from the family behind Cullen Wines.

That means Nic grew up surrounded by two of the most influential names in Australian wine.

Think about that for a moment.

Pierro.

Cullen.

Two extraordinary wineries.

Two very different approaches to Chardonnay.

And two producers that helped shape the reputation of Margaret River.

It's a remarkable background.

But what's particularly impressive is that Nic has developed his own distinctive identity.

He has worked internationally, gained experience across different wine regions and developed a fascination with unconventional varieties and winemaking techniques.

Rather than simply reproduce the wines he grew up around, he has created something entirely his own.

Southern Seas – A Different Expression of Margaret River Chardonnay

Margaret River is famous for Chardonnay.

And for good reason.

The region produces some of Australia's greatest examples.

But it's important to understand that Margaret River isn't one uniform vineyard.

Different sites experience different levels of maritime influence.

Different soil structures.

Different exposures.

And different ripening conditions.

Those differences can produce remarkably different styles of Chardonnay.

The Southern Seas name evokes the powerful oceanic influence that helps define the region.

The surrounding Indian and Southern Ocean systems moderate temperatures and contribute to the conditions that make premium Chardonnay possible.

And the finest wines often combine beautiful fruit concentration with a remarkable line of natural acidity.

That's the balance that makes Margaret River Chardonnay so compelling.

What Makes Nic Peterkin Different?

Here's what I find particularly exciting about L.A.S. Vino.

Nic isn't afraid to experiment.

Across his range, he's explored unusual grape varieties, alternative fermentation vessels, different approaches to skin contact and innovative ways of expressing Margaret River fruit.

But experimentation alone doesn't make great wine.

The important thing is knowing when a technique improves the wine.

And when to leave the fruit alone.

Nic's best wines have a wonderful sense of balance.

They're interesting.

Sometimes unconventional.

But always focused on flavour, texture and drinkability.

And that makes them fascinating wines to explore.

Tasting Profile – Citrus, Stone Fruit and Coastal Freshness

The 2025 Southern Seas Chardonnay is a wine for lovers of modern, beautifully structured Margaret River Chardonnay.

Its appeal lies in the interplay between fruit concentration, savoury complexity and freshness.

Expect a profile built around:

• Fresh lemon and grapefruit

• White peach and nectarine

• Citrus blossom

• Fine savoury spice

• Subtle nutty complexity

• Flinty mineral character

• Beautifully integrated texture

• Persistent natural acidity

The palate is about balance.

Margaret River Chardonnay can have wonderful generosity.

But the finest examples also possess the acidity and structure to keep everything precise.

And that's what makes this style so exciting.

The fruit provides flavour.

The texture adds depth.

The savoury elements create interest.

And the acidity carries everything through to a long, refreshing finish.

Citrus. White peach. Fine spice. Savoury complexity. Mineral tension. Beautiful length.

96 Points – The Wine Front

The 2025 L.A.S. Vino Southern Seas Chardonnay has received an outstanding:

96 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT!

That's an exceptional score.

And another endorsement of the quality Nic Peterkin is achieving with his Chardonnay wines.

At an RRP of $83, this sits firmly in the premium Chardonnay category.

But when you consider the pedigree of the winemaker, the quality of Margaret River fruit and the outstanding critical recognition, it's a wine that deserves serious attention.

Margaret River – One of the World's Great Chardonnay Regions

There are very few Australian wine regions that can match Margaret River's extraordinary consistency with Chardonnay.

The region combines a Mediterranean-influenced climate with strong maritime moderation.

Warm, dry summers allow Chardonnay to develop excellent flavour concentration.

Cooling ocean influences help moderate temperatures.

And the finest vineyard sites can preserve the natural acidity needed for freshness and longevity.

The region has produced an extraordinary collection of benchmark wines.

Leeuwin Estate Art Series.

Pierro.

Cullen.

Vasse Felix Heytesbury.

And an exciting new generation of producers including L.A.S. Vino.

What makes the region particularly fascinating is the diversity of Chardonnay styles.

Some are rich and beautifully textured.

Others are more restrained and mineral-driven.

And the best combine both approaches.

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