I tasted this on release and thought it needed a little more time. Fast forward to August and I purchased one to try again. The extremely friendly folk at Wirra Wirra would have no doubt sent me another bottle if I’d asked but hey, it’s a nice wine and I ended up emptying it with a friend after tasting it anyway.
The two major issues confronting the the 2011 12th Man Chardonnay were the wet weather in the Adelaide Hills and just how good the 2010 release was. Given those factors they’ve done pretty well here. A fair whack of cashew oak (35% new) encases white peach and citrus, imparting a softer edge to a year that produced driving and sometimes firm acidity. It’s still a taut wine though and one that I suspect will benefit from another year or two in the bottle. There’s some almond meal and nutmeg adding further interest as well. My score is conservative and indicative of my opinion that the wine has not yet really come together. 89+ Good
Region: Adelaide Hills
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $31.95
Tasted: August 2012