I haven’t engaged in my traditional hunt for bargain Chardonnay thrills that much this summer – a sign that I’ve been spoilt in drinking terms. The budget end of the market now calls and this Jacob’s Creek Reserve is okay for around the $15 mark although I do hope I will find better…
A rather audacious nose spits out coarse white peach, pineapple, lime and cashew oak. Unfortunately the fruit lacks the intensity and/or richness to cope with the wood and the finish pulls up too hard and raw. It does improve with air-time, adding spice and hints of (latent) butterscotch. Amorphous and slightly clumsy, the wine offers the kind of limited pleasures provided by adolescent fumblings in the dim, distant past. Average
Region: Adelaide Hills
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $17.99
Tasted: January 2012
I don’t think it’s possible to beat the Xanadu Next of Kin 2009 Chardonnay for the price.
Jesse – I don’t think I’ve seen the Xanadu ‘Next of Kin’ 2009 around but I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for it from here on in.