Category Archives: Chardonnay

2012 De Bortoli Villages Chardonnay

Sourced from a number of vineyards throughout the Yarra Valley. Wild fermented in French oak casks. 100% malolactic. Some struck match and solidsy notes tame the primary white peach flavour with suggestions of citrus underneath. Malleable in the mouth with appreciable tannin yet … Continue reading

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2012 Montalto Estate Chardonnay

Also a single vineyard wine although only labelled as ‘Estate’. Red Hill subregion. More diffuse than the single vineyard labelled wines. An amalgam of melon, white peach and citrus. Each fruit flavour bleeds into the other in an indistinct manner. … Continue reading

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2012 Montalto Hawkins Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Sweeter, brasher and punchier than The Eleven Vineyard Chardonnay. Lees is still a player but it’s dialled back giving the wine great clarity and more of a sense of definition. White peach and melon, nectarine, honeysuckle and citrus. Has a … Continue reading

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2012 Montalto The Eleven Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2012 Montalto Pinot Noirs imparted the firm impression that the winery and maker Simon Black were on the right path and these 2012 single vineyard Chardonnays back that up. Serve this in a Burgundy bowl to get the most … Continue reading

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2010 Voyager Estate Chardonnay

Perhaps I’m in the minority but I believe Voyager’s Chardonnay has been on the improve over the last couple of vintages. I attribute a lot of that to more judicious use of oak. Spiced pear, grapefruit, white nectarine, toast and … Continue reading

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2012 Mr Riggs Cold Chalk Chardonnay

There’s no shortage of (confused) personality in the last two Mr Riggs whites I’ve tasted. The trouble is, certain personalities don’t appeal to me. This comes across as an uneven, offering a degree of pleasurable companionship at times but ultimately … Continue reading

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2013 Toolangi Emanai

A new wine from Toolangi. Chardonnay and Viognier from Dixons Creek co-fermented and aged in used French oak for three months. Pleasant enough if lacking in excitement. A whiff of honeysuckle mingles with white peach, apricot skins and flesh, tangerine … Continue reading

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2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard Chardonnay

Scores aren’t a science but there’s a degree of relief when you look at a wine eight months down the track and your impressions and rating haven’t changed that much. I don’t believe the wine has either. It’s precisely the … Continue reading

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2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor Estate Chardonnay

I had the good fortune to see the 2011 Estate Chardonnay along with the Wallis and McCutcheon Single Vineyard Chardonnays pre-release and posted notes on them at the time. I think my score was initially stingy and am happier with this tasting note. The … Continue reading

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2012 Ten Minutes by Tractor 10X Chardonnay

Ten Minutes by Tractor Chardonnays have never been victims of fashion. Never scared of flavour or overt winemaker input. But they are always balanced within their chosen style. Wild yeast, partial malo, 10 months in barrel (12% new French barriques). … Continue reading

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