Apart from Lake’s Folly, Tyrrell’s Vat 47 and De Iuliis I don’t drink much in the way of Hunter Chardonnay. I find the friendly fruitiness of most examples not quite to my taste. Which doesn’t make them bad per se. It’s a personal preference thing.
This has plenty of sunny, tropical flavour. Grilled peaches, figs, bruised apple with chunks of pineapple leading into the finish. It also has a lot of leesy funk and the longer you leave it open the more that funk comes to the fore. For me it balances all that Hunter hospitality. Toasted spice from the French oak adds a nice dimension. I can see people liking it and it is balanced. Even I didn’t mind a glass with a breaded pork cutlet. 90 Good
Region: Hunter Valley
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $40
Tasted: April 2013