New Release Chardonnay – July 2017
Barry Weinman: 4th August 2017
This tasting highlighted the various styles of Chardonnay that are on the market now. Gone are the days of the fat, buttery wines, with a move to more restrained and elegant wines.
For this review, I decided on a couple of very modern wines from Fraser Gallop,Marchand & Burch and a richer wine from Evans & Tate. The latter is a wine that offers a lot of drinking pleasure right now.
Reviewed
Marchand and Burch – Chardonnay – Porongorup & Mount Barker – 2016 (18.5/20 – $73). Dry, taut and lean, the acid holding back the fruit initially, but opens to show floral fruit. A very modern wine that needs years to provide enjoyment. Fine and elegant, with expensive, though restrained oak. Superb wine for the future.
Evans & Tate – Chardonnay – Redbrook – 2013 (18+/20 – $49). Stylistically, this sits between the lean modern styles and the rich wines of old, and is much the better for it. Subtly worked characters over ripe stone fruit aromas. Nectarine and peach on the palate, complemented by structuring oak. The lees work is dialled back here, adding depth without clouding the pristine fruit. Will flesh out with 3 – 5 years in the bottle, but is a treat now.
Fraser Gallop – Chardonnay – Parterre – 2016 (18/20 – $39 ). This is a very good wine, in a lean and elegant style. Delicate, there is lifted white peach-like fruit that builds in layers . Intense, worked, youthful, points here are for potential.