This wonderfully elegant Shiraz shows intense, pristine, blackberry fruit and ripe, silky tannins. It almost has a Pinot Noir elegance to it and, luckily, the quality of future vintages will only be getting better too as Voyager's new clones come on line.
Laurent Ponsot Bourgogne Blanc Cuvée Du Perce Neige
Laurent Ponsots new company is a stage in a wide-ranging project that began four decades ago. In this different format, Laurent Ponsot continues to use his experience, his craftsmanship and his passion to serve the terroir of Burgundy. The company Laurent Ponsot is neither a domain nor a maison: its a state of mind. To create an exceptional wine is the equivalent of designing luxury goods. Haute couture is how we have decided to describe these incredible wines, like unique designer pieces, made even more glorious through our experience and craftsmanship. The freshness and fruity and accessible suppleness of a Bourgogne Blanc make it the perfect introduction to the stunning wines of Laurent Ponsot.
Laurent Ponsot Bourgogne Blanc Cuvée du Perce-Neige 2020
The flagship white wine from Hardy's, the Eileen Hardy has become one of Australia's benchmark Chardonnays. Complex, elegant and very much cool climate in style it drinks superbly now and will only improve.
Blackberries, cherry and dark chocolate combine to create a layered, complex nose. The wine reveals an intense dark berry fruit spectrum coupled with a rich and lush mouthfeel. High quality French oak has given the wine great definition and a long, soft tannin structure and finish.
One of the rare Penfolds wines that is 100% single-regional, the Reserve Bin A Chardonnay is sourced from super premium sites in the Adelaide Hills resulting in a fresh, mineral style that lies at the forefront of the modern Chardonnay style. A wine that will always be linked with 'White Grange', Penfolds Yattarna: This 2014 vintage shows a palate of Granny Smith apples, lemon curd with a pure chalky texture and a lengthy finish.
Margaret River icons, Leeuwin Estate, have produced a wine of true class here. A great finish to the vintage shows up here with aromas of cassis, redcurrant and chocolate. Sweet ripe fruit on the palate is well matched with toasty French oak and fine tannin.
2016 Hardys Eileen Chardonnay,Medium straw in colour with bright, green tinges. Intense aromas of ripe citrus lemon and stone fruit with a hint of toasty oak interwoven with a rich and savoury palate that is complex, textural with a juicy finish. A rich, powerful and elegant wine. Eileen Hardy Chardonnay looks to preserve the essential characteristics of the fruit in the vineyard. To create the highest quality blend every vintage. Gentle handling of the fruit and wine help to achieve this, while restrained winemaking assists in developing the complexity of the final blend.
Ten Minutes by Tractor have access to some of the Mornington Peninsula's very best single vineyard sites. The Wallis Vineyard produces a Chardonnay of uptmost power and elegance here. Some delicious texture and weight are great features of this wine where fresh citrus provides contrast on the palate and some nice oak provides the structure.
As Australian Chardonnay continues its re-emergence, Vasse Felix Heytesbury is firmly leading the charge with its complex, modern style that has seen the winemaking team take home a cabinet full of trophies and gold medals in recent years. 100% wild yeast fermented and matured in French oak for only nine months, there is a power and persistence that is unmistakable. A flavour cavalcade of matchstick, citrus, white peach and grapefruit alongside a subtle toasty, nutty aspect from the sublime oak regime. The finish of this remarkable example will leave you in no doubt to this wines pedigree and ageability. Sheer classic.
Margaret River is a world renowned Chardonnay producing region and Pierro can rightfully stake a claim as to why. Incredibly complex, it is a tangle of fine-boned acid, lees complexity, pristine fruit and the most detailed use of good quality oak. Extremely enjoyable now, but will benefit from short to medium term cellaring.