This is a well-made New world Chardonnay. It is medium-bodied and any oak is well balanced, in my view it is fairly minimal. It has evolved over six years nicely and still has a few years left in it. The nose is fairly neutral with no dramatic aromatics, whilst on the palate there is a dominant melon and peach theme. It is a very enjoyable wine and drank well with chicken. My only real concern would be the price. In the UK, current vintages are over £30 a bottle. In the global marketplace, would I say that was good value? Not convinced that it would be. There are better, either more elegant or more distinctive or both, £30 Chardonnays out there
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Still very fresh. Quite oaky and a bit reductive. Still comes across as very young and it's quite hard to get a read on a drinking window, no rush though.
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Lovely nose of pretty oakiness, some citrus and honey, and vanilla. Unmistakably Chardonnay of high quality, hints of Meursault at first but the vanilla takes over after a short while, definitely new world. Good acids but slightly lacking in length.
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After drinking a wonderful Chenin Blanc, I made the mistake of opening this over-oaked Chardonnay. Not my cup of tea. I am not a fan of the over-oaked Chardonnay wood-infused beverage. We moved onto beer. I will use the rest of this bottle for cooking.
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91-92+ As solid a producer as they come. Benchmark cool climate Chardonnay from S+S' estate vineyards, planted 1999. Small use of new oak, 9m in barrel, partial malo.
N: REDUCTIVE, sulphur, a bit eggy, flint and waxed bruised lemon. Punchy. Tart peach, subtle dried apricot.
P: Bright, tart red apple and juicy white peach. Develops to deeper waxed lemon, lemon curd, med+ almost fizzy, minerally acidity. Subtle rubber/sulphur - reductive style. A touch of vanilla/toast.
P: Mineral, lemon skin, oak toast.
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Creamy full-bodied white. A stunning chardonnay for the intensity and complexity. It has attractive flinty aromas with white peaches, nectarines, pineapples, orange zest, citrus, subtle oak and grilled hazelnut to close.
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For the price I was a tad disappointed especially given all the previous good reviews. It is a good wine but nothing exceptional. Quite soft and gentle for an Australian Chardonnay with little oak.
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Sadly, I didn't get the match smell that others boast of, but excellent nonetheless. White flowers and fruits, great acid, and very much developed over a few hours.
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flinty matchstick, grass, apple, stone aromas. on the palate - citrus, peach, minerals. good acidity. long lingering finish. can't fault this wine. very good
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Matchstick going on, just sniffing, wears off, gains balance and coolness. Buttery, gentle and quite round, yet with fine acidity. Extremely well made. #podcast
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Return to Aus; 6/23/2019-7/5/2019 (Adelaide, South Australia wine regions, Tassie, Yarra, etc.): See earlier note on the '12 - this is no longer from the M3 vineyard (which left with the third M when he parted with the Shaw + Smith winery). Similar to the '12 of this wine it's got the line and tangy flavors. It's again though hitting me as just too much chard (take with a grain of salt - I don't like chardonnay).
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8/7/2023 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
This is a well-made New world Chardonnay. It is medium-bodied and any oak is well balanced, in my view it is fairly minimal. It has evolved over six years nicely and still has a few years left in it. The nose is fairly neutral with no dramatic aromatics, whilst on the palate there is a dominant melon and peach theme. It is a very enjoyable wine and drank well with chicken. My only real concern would be the price. In the UK, current vintages are over £30 a bottle. In the global marketplace, would I say that was good value? Not convinced that it would be. There are better, either more elegant or more distinctive or both, £30 Chardonnays out there
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12/23/2022 - Mid Palate Tingle wrote:
Still very fresh. Quite oaky and a bit reductive. Still comes across as very young and it's quite hard to get a read on a drinking window, no rush though.
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6/21/2022 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
No sign of over maturity yet, a tad of elegance in fact, and stood up well to pork chops
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12/23/2021 - hahostolze Likes this wine: 88 Points
Lovely nose of pretty oakiness, some citrus and honey, and vanilla. Unmistakably Chardonnay of high quality, hints of Meursault at first but the vanilla takes over after a short while, definitely new world. Good acids but slightly lacking in length.
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5/14/2021 - A&C Does not like this wine: 78 Points
After drinking a wonderful Chenin Blanc, I made the mistake of opening this over-oaked Chardonnay. Not my cup of tea. I am not a fan of the over-oaked Chardonnay wood-infused beverage. We moved onto beer. I will use the rest of this bottle for cooking.
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2/25/2021 - Kcornett Likes this wine: 88 Points
A lot of citrus.
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2/6/2021 - WilliamMP Likes this wine: 92 Points
91-92+ As solid a producer as they come. Benchmark cool climate Chardonnay from S+S' estate vineyards, planted 1999. Small use of new oak, 9m in barrel, partial malo.
N: REDUCTIVE, sulphur, a bit eggy, flint and waxed bruised lemon. Punchy. Tart peach, subtle dried apricot.
P: Bright, tart red apple and juicy white peach. Develops to deeper waxed lemon, lemon curd, med+ almost fizzy, minerally acidity. Subtle rubber/sulphur - reductive style. A touch of vanilla/toast.
P: Mineral, lemon skin, oak toast.
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1/9/2021 - Kcornett Likes this wine: 90 Points
Crisp apple with match and slight vanilla on the nose. Easily overpowered by food.
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11/16/2020 - RowenaT wrote: 90 Points
Creamy full-bodied white. A stunning chardonnay for the intensity and complexity. It has attractive flinty aromas with white peaches, nectarines, pineapples, orange zest, citrus, subtle oak and grilled hazelnut to close.
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11/5/2020 - belfast taxman wrote: 88 Points
For the price I was a tad disappointed especially given all the previous good reviews. It is a good wine but nothing exceptional. Quite soft and gentle for an Australian Chardonnay with little oak.
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10/21/2020 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Crowd pleaser.
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10/13/2020 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
I agree with prior reviewers- delightful, dry on the light side.
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9/7/2020 - Jdevans Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sadly, I didn't get the match smell that others boast of, but excellent nonetheless. White flowers and fruits, great acid, and very much developed over a few hours.
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6/1/2020 - ANWW89 Likes this wine: 92 Points
flinty matchstick, grass, apple, stone aromas. on the palate - citrus, peach, minerals. good acidity. long lingering finish. can't fault this wine. very good
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3/16/2020 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
Matchstick going on, just sniffing, wears off, gains balance and coolness. Buttery, gentle and quite round, yet with fine acidity. Extremely well made.
#podcast
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10/21/2019 - Johno's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Huge wine with a very solid structure but lots of great fruit and acidity
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6/29/2019 - azzah wrote: 90 Points
Had over two nights but it’s quite lean with unripe melon and herbs. Quite spiky acid with not enough body or fruit depth. 90 for me.
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6/28/2019 - retired_and_roving wrote:
2 weeks in Australia with a stopover in Singapore; 6/14/2019-7/1/2019 (Singapore, Sydney, Adelaide, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills): Tasted at the winery. Lots of struck match on the nose here - powerful. A very bright wine, with lots of lemony citrus and minerals. Others in the group were reading this as more of buttery new world style - but I did not find that at all.
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6/28/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Return to Aus; 6/23/2019-7/5/2019 (Adelaide, South Australia wine regions, Tassie, Yarra, etc.): See earlier note on the '12 - this is no longer from the M3 vineyard (which left with the third M when he parted with the Shaw + Smith winery). Similar to the '12 of this wine it's got the line and tangy flavors. It's again though hitting me as just too much chard (take with a grain of salt - I don't like chardonnay).
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6/19/2019 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
2 weeks in Australia with a stopover in Singapore; 6/14/2019-7/1/2019 (Singapore, Sydney, Adelaide, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills): From the wine list at Cafe Sydney (Sydney). Nose of golden apples. Great acidity coming through along with crisp golden apples and minerals on the finish. I was quite pleased with the brightness here did not seem fat or buttery to me at all.
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