Made entirely using the Argentinian Mendoza clone from the cool-ish ‘Thunderbird Vineyard’ located in the Southern Fleurieu. It’s a stylistic expression that seems to straddle old school and new school expressions of Chardonnay. No malo but a fair hit of new French oak in barrique form. Lots of lees work. Quirky and perhaps best viewed as an individual rather than part of a movement.
Initially the cream and butterscotch characters throw a blanket over the intricacies of the wine but with time things come into greater focus. Hazelnuts, oatmeal and peach with a lemon hip thrust adding the right amount of levity to proceedings. Hints of desiccated coconut and melon through the mid-palate and a bit of wood-spice on the finish. I wouldn’t say it’s a delicate Chardonnay but there’s ample acidity off which the flavours hang. Not my personally preferred interpretation of the variety but it has its place. Idiosyncratic. 89 Good
Region: Southern Fleurieu
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $42
Tasted: November 2012