Appearance: clear, medium gold. Nose: medium plus intensity. Aromas of white orchids, honey, blue cheese, smoky, savoury, white peach, nectarine skin, Fuji apple. It’s developing. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus flavour intensity with savoury, honey, floral, peach skin notes. The finish is medium plus as well. The acidity carries through the wine really well. Balanced and very intense fruits with a lot going on but still fresh and vibrant. The finish is lingering. Well aged and drink in great shape now! Awesomely made MR chardy and worth its fame!
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Vintage 2011 Tasting: pale lemon tropical fruits, hint of crushed herbal spice. soft mouthfeel, nice tropical fruits, well integrated oak spice. Lacks zip though.
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Starbright, golden sand; smokey, buttery, nice ‘n’ oaky; dry, rich with refreshing acidity as counterbalance; finishes in positive & polished manner. Very long. Drink now & next couple of years.
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One sniff, one sip - the real deal. . Judicious oak, citrussy, struck match; palate confirms the class despite being too young. Thrilling, extended finish. Wow.
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An Evening of Aussie Legends to Inaugurate Our New Wine Tasting Group (A Relatively Secret Room in Buellton, CA): My first encounter with this bottle and it did Margaret River Chardonnays proud. Chablisienne in style, I was very impressed with its precision and minerality, which made it a fabulous accompaniment for raw oysters three ways as well as the halibut ceviche. Gorgeous aromatics of white peach and lychee, which improved as it warmed. Tremendous, silky mouthfeel, rounding out beautifully over time. Lengthy finish. Easily 4-5 more years of easy drinking to this one.
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30 minutes in the decanter. Transparent green/ gold in colour. Aromatic nose of integrated oak and citrus fruit. Mid-weight palate, white stone fruits to the fore, followed by citrus freshening and mineral acidity into the long finish. Oak finesse adds depth and a comparatively lighter treatment than the '12.
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I expected this wine to be better, I believe it has something of a reputation.
What pulls it down is obvious skin (and/or pips) contact that gives a distracting bitterness. Otherwise it is gentle, soft, slightly blowsy, savoury chardonnay, not particularly concentrated.
I bought it on special, a clearance sale, perhaps the reason is that it was originally over-priced, out competed by better Australian chardonnays?
Screwcap. 13.5%. Drink now - 2019.
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3/23/2024 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Appearance: clear, medium gold.
Nose: medium plus intensity. Aromas of white orchids, honey, blue cheese, smoky, savoury, white peach, nectarine skin, Fuji apple. It’s developing.
Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus flavour intensity with savoury, honey, floral, peach skin notes. The finish is medium plus as well.
The acidity carries through the wine really well. Balanced and very intense fruits with a lot going on but still fresh and vibrant. The finish is lingering. Well aged and drink in great shape now! Awesomely made MR chardy and worth its fame!
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3/13/2021 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vintage 2011 Tasting: pale lemon
tropical fruits, hint of crushed herbal spice.
soft mouthfeel, nice tropical fruits, well integrated oak spice. Lacks zip though.
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11/11/2020 - chbeaumont wrote: 93 Points
Sunflower yellow; lean, sleek yet plenty showing on nose; palate very similar, well built. Holding up well.
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11/20/2019 - chbeaumont wrote: 92 Points
Contrasting with St Aubin ‘16, the tropical notes & ‘sweetness’ poke out. Well balanced & now signs of decline.
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3/24/2019 - sdr wrote:
I like this quite a bit, too bad it’s not available in the US. More earthy, complex and interesting than the usual boring Sonoma chards.
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1/12/2019 - lesz Likes this wine: 92 Points
All thought delicious. We had it shipped from Australia as not available in states.
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12/28/2017 - chbeaumont wrote: 92 Points
Starbright, golden sand; smokey, buttery, nice ‘n’ oaky; dry, rich with refreshing acidity as counterbalance; finishes in positive & polished manner. Very long. Drink now & next couple of years.
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6/27/2017 - chbeaumont wrote: 96 Points
One sniff, one sip - the real deal. . Judicious oak, citrussy, struck match; palate confirms the class despite being too young. Thrilling, extended finish. Wow.
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5/13/2016 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
An Evening of Aussie Legends to Inaugurate Our New Wine Tasting Group (A Relatively Secret Room in Buellton, CA): My first encounter with this bottle and it did Margaret River Chardonnays proud. Chablisienne in style, I was very impressed with its precision and minerality, which made it a fabulous accompaniment for raw oysters three ways as well as the halibut ceviche. Gorgeous aromatics of white peach and lychee, which improved as it warmed. Tremendous, silky mouthfeel, rounding out beautifully over time. Lengthy finish. Easily 4-5 more years of easy drinking to this one.
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10/24/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote: 92 Points
30 minutes in the decanter.
Transparent green/ gold in colour.
Aromatic nose of integrated oak and citrus fruit.
Mid-weight palate, white stone fruits to the fore, followed by citrus freshening and mineral acidity into the long finish. Oak finesse adds depth and a comparatively lighter treatment than the '12.
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6/27/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Post Musique & Vin Festival BYO Dinner with Musicians (1243 Bourgogne Society - Beaune): Very pleasant with excellent fruit, good textures and good length. Easy to enjoy in an evening full of Burgundy, even if it doesn't quite fit.
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9/14/2014 - ProfByron wrote: 86 Points
I expected this wine to be better, I believe it has something of a reputation.
What pulls it down is obvious skin (and/or pips) contact that gives a distracting bitterness. Otherwise it is gentle, soft, slightly blowsy, savoury chardonnay, not particularly concentrated.
I bought it on special, a clearance sale, perhaps the reason is that it was originally over-priced, out competed by better Australian chardonnays?
Screwcap. 13.5%. Drink now - 2019.
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2/2/2014 - Paco55 wrote: 92 Points
Really lovely wine - could drink this all day every day particularly in summer. Well balanced and world class.
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9/11/2013 - startinoz wrote: 93 Points
Subtle, but concentrated lime, nectarine and cashew nuts. Good, but not my cup of chardonnay.
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2/22/2013 - startinoz wrote: 91 Points
Pretty good chardy. No notes. Lacking a touch in balance and intensity to be one of the Aussie greats. Still better than most.....
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