With all the (rather undifferentiated) applause for more austere styles of Australian Chardonnay I wonder where the Margaret River sits now. Hopefully we won’t see the regionality of a wonderfully defined expression of the grape prematurely picked out in the name of fashion.
Fraser Gallop have made a few changes to their Chardonnay since a very good release in 2009. The wine is now 100% Gin-Gin clone as they believe it responds better to their climate than the Burgundy clones. The grapes are harvested at slightly lower baumes to ensure higher natural acidity. What’s impressive is the sensitivity employed in the application of these alterations.
A combination of precision and power with pristine fruit flavour, a vital acid backbone and confidently pitched toasty, spicy oak. Flavours of white peach, melon, citrus and honeycomb with just a trace of brine at the end. As a young wine it takes a little while for everything to mesh in the glass but I think the balance is spot on. Very Good – Excellent
Region: Margaret River
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Tasted: October 2011
I’m with you in hoping Oz chard styles don’t all tread the same path (again). They are just so damn good in a lot of cases that skipping regionality in an over-eager pursuit of natural acidity and lower alcohol for the sake of it seems a pity. Fraser Gallop’s chard is really very good value for its quality.
Cheers
Sean