CHARDY!! ALL SORTS
Arghhh Chardonnay! This variety has had its rises and falls and I think it may be due to boredom & fashion, but make no mistake, us Aussies make some pretty good Chardonnay and the world its starting to take notice. This pack has a great selection of small producers from across the land (I maybe criticized because I’ve missed some regions, but it's what I’ve tried that stands out for the money). This pack has some leaner, more modern styles (don’t know where that saying came from) and some older Aussie styles. Okay back when I was younger Chardy tended to be bigger, oaky-er and rich. Now, as I am older (but still very young at heart) the wines are leaner and fresher in style. This pack has a bit of everything.
Marq Wild Ferment Margaret River Chardonnay 2014
Margaret River is the first stop. There’s no doubt that Margaret River producers some of Australia’s best Chardonnay. Marq is relatively new, but owner/winemaker Mark Warren has been making wine in the region for many years so he has the knowledge of the regions style and quality. This wine has a nose of white peach and grapefruit with notable flintiness, palate tight and intense, with lemon curd and white peach with hint of cashew, with great length. Loved 2013, 2014 just as good.
Holm Oak Chardonnay 2014
The rise of the Tasmanian wine industry is fantastic. What I like is the producers are growing to their climate, which is cool, so Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir are standouts. In fact our best sparkling wines consistently come from the Apple Isle, mainly due to the high quality of Chardonnay and Pinot. Today, we are looking at Holm Oak in the North, not too far from Launceston, if you get a chance visit the property it's worth it.
Rebecca & Tim Duffy are the proud owners with tonnes of experience in the industry at the winemaking and a viticultural level. The cellar is stunning!
Their Chardonnay is my style and in somewhat more of a modern style we see nowadays. It's got a nice bit of power, nice bit of creaminess from the small amount of malolatic fermentation, but beautifully balanced with the leaner fruits of citrus and white peach, nice spiciness - I suspect from the oak and great minerality.
Warramate Chardonnay 2014
To the Yarra Valley next and a wine that has now become one of my favourites. Being owned by one of Australia’s most iconic producers Yarra Yering this wine is pretty good (it's made by the same winemakers). This wine is down the new school in style leaner - more citrusy and less oak influence. In fact only 30% sees oak for 8 months adding complexity without the dominance. And they’ve nailed it, I like the balance of the wine tones of citrus fruits with the subtle complexity and nice crisp finish.
Woodlands Chardonnay 2014
Marg's again, and probably one of my longtime favorites from the boys at Woodlands who are without a doubt one of the superstars of the region now. This wine is classic Margaret River Chardonnay – Intense and powerful, layers of stone fruit and lime, nectarines and pear, excellent minerality over subtle French oak. Well-balanced, powerful palate with awesome natural acidity. Great wine actually excellent wine.
Narkoojee Lily Grace Chardonnay 2013
Narkoojee, meaning ‘place of flowers”, was originally a dairy farm that had been run by Harry Friend’s parents since the 1940’s. Harry planted the first vines on the property in 1980. Since that time, Narkoojee has achieved a remarkable reputation as one of the best wine producers in the Gippsland region. Harry and son Axel consistently produce wines of great varietal intensity and complexity.
I was only introduced to this label late last year by the distributor and dragged into their Pinot Noir’s, tasted their Chardonnay’s as well, there a bit old school in style bigger, richer, more toasty styles and at the same time some nice leaner characters that seem to be a style off today’s time. Good thing is I think this wine will suit most palates.
Creamy and toasty, great complexity but at the same time showing leaner fruit characters, of white peach, with nice mineral finish.
Bellbrae Longboard Chardonnay 2015
I only just tasted this wine just under a month ago and was impressed with it and just how good it was (In fact all the wines were good) Bellbrae is situated just south of Torquay, Victoria (Geelong Wine Region) and is smack bang at the start of the Great Ocean Rd, just across the way is the famous Bell’s Beach, hence the reference to surfing on the label – Longboard. A small producer focusing on varieties that work in the region and definitely you see that in the style and regional nuances.
This Chardy is a bit old school and a bit new school and does it well made from selected parcels of local premium fruit, the style shows lifted aromas of Peach and Nectarines which give it instant attraction. Its richer with flavours of peach, and stone fruits but still has the juicy citrus backbone damn nice mix of styles that will suit both lovers of the chardonnay style.
Enjoy :)
