Philip Shaw No 11 Chardonnay
The Philip Shaw No.11 Chardonnay is produced from high altitude vineyards in a region firmly claiming its rightful place at the table of great Chardonnay regions, Orange of NSW. A brilliant combination of flavours of citrus and honey dew and a great sense of minerality with a firm focus on low crops and supreme site selection.
Lark Hill Biodynamic Chardonnay
Lark Hill's Chardonnay is a classic cool-climate Chardonnay that displays the trademark white peach, melon and fig characters. Balanced with some lovely fruit weight is the acid length that is present in all of Lark Hill's wines. Using wild ferments and 10 months on lees in barrel, this Chardonnay joins the throng of great
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay
An elegant, vibrant and fragrant nose with lemon, lime and pear in the foreground. Notes of peach blossom and subtle jasmine create lift and combines with cardamom pod, almond meal and roasted cashew. The palate has immense purity, with power and persistence. Lime and lemon pith define the palate, which carries through to a delicately layered middle, threaded with a fine mineral spine. Sesame seed and blanched almonds enhance complexity, finishing with a sparkling acid structure. This wine has energy in its youth, and will build texture with cellaring.
Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons
Pristine concentration and complexity of favour are the hallmarks of Simmonet-Febvre, a revered maker in Chablis. Stonefruits and ruby grapefruit with grilled nuts, owing no doubt to Simmonet-Febvre's insistence on ageing their Premier-Cru wines on lees for over a year. Has all the zippy-freshness you would expect from a high-level Chablis.
Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay
The wines of Fraser Gallop Estate are intensely flavoured, textured and complex. Only the finest quality French oak barrels are used for all Fraser Gallop Estate wines, with very specific Bordelais coopers used for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends, and Burgundian coopers for the Chardonnay. The complete winemaking process takes place at the estate - picking to vinification to barrel maturation to bottling to cellaring. Fraser Gallop Estate is an estate grown, produced and bottled wine. Flavours of lemon curd and grapefruit with searing length. A wine with clarity and finesse. A tightly focussed and very precise wine showing seamless fruit purity with the lightly toasted French oak very much in the background. Crystalline acidity and a mouth-watering finish complete this Chardonnay.
Craggy Range Gimblett Chardonnay
The Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay is made using very traditional winemaking techniques involving wild yeasts and the use of French oak barriques. The resulting wine is always finely flavoured and softly textured with a linear elegance that allows the wine to retain its freshness. Lovely aromatics of white flowers, peach, biscuit and flint. Integrated fresh flavours of stone fruits, lemon zest and roasted nuts create a generous and complex feel across the palate which is elegant and long on the finish.
Alain Geoffroy Chablis
Many of us wine drinkers have a soft spot for Chablis. Its with great reason too, given our climate and affi nity with seafood. A little over two months ago, we were thrilled when this wine hit our shores for the first time following a selective buying trip. Once again, it showcased its undisputed quality and notoriety in our tasting sessions. Established in 1850, this small family owned domain is the proven choice of so many when it comes to great Chablis. The estate comprises a mere 45 hectares of vines scattered throughout the region, grown on the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Textbook in expression and style, super fi ne and elegant, this 2013 has perfectly poised, piercing acidity. This drives superb length of flavour on the featherweight light palate. Is there a better oyster wine?
Nanny Goat Vineyard Chardonnay
Amongst premier wine grape varieties, Chardonnay is the most divergent and most planted white wine grape in the world. Pale straw in colour, this well-crafted wine is rich and mouth filling. An exotic fusion of ripe yellow plums, white grapefruits, nuances of sweet baking spices, cream, and lightly toasted cashew nuts can be experienced in this wine. As the wine swirls in the glass, the nose is greeted with noticeable scents of citrus peel and ripe stone fruits, with an air of delicate florals. The palate is rich and filling on initial entry while the mid-palate adds fresh cream to the mix, before a brisk acidity leads to a nippy and clean finish. It is a flexible wine that pairs well with soft cheeses, scallops, or fish with herbs.
Domaine Naturaliste Artus Chardonnay
After twenty years of applying his passion and expertise to the countless vintages for local producers, renowned winemaker Bruce Dukes has launched Domaine Naturaliste his own range of wines, named for the southwest region where he has honed his craft.
Kumeu River Chardonnay
This has power and concentration yet retains delicacy and freshness. Mineral, grapefruit, almond meal and quality oak are seamlessly interwoven.