Brisbane Book Club » Chardonnay

Cape Mentelle Margaret River Chardonnay 2010

michel — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:45:17 +0000

Yes yes fish again-local line caught snapper- fresh squeezed lime juice from our tree & the obligatory chard.
I will say it again- New World chardonnay has gone ahead leaps & bounds the last few years.
Complex barrel ferment integrated harmoniously with lemon/stonefruit and oak. Linear acid structure – perhaps a touch young & raw – but this is brilliant – leave another 6-12 months and it will be as up beat and complex as New Order’s Bizarre Love Triangle.
89.5- 93

Spring Vale Chardonnay 2010

michel — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 08:26:16 +0000

Clean citrus & melon- low acid style – drink now – still has enough structure to go a year or two but it is winner now and no new oak makes it a winner for me.
$23 good value
87

2009 Bindi Quartz Chardonnay

Andrew — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:56:02 +0000

Holy unseasonal weather batman, its 32 degrees today in Brisbane! I thought I’d be drinking pinot noir tonight, but too hot. And lamb cutlets means riesling just wont do. This bottle of chardonnay has been winking at me for a while so tonight is its night.

A healthy straw colour. Smells of freshly cut hay, almonds and cashews. Opens with some apparent sweetness in its orange citrus attack, and makes me wonder if there are a few grams RS in this. This starts out lush and plump at the mid palate and jumps to attention as it finishes. It shows more cut hay and ripe honeydew melon on the way to revealing its acid spine which closes this out nicely and leaves a lingering sense of satisfaction on the finish. If Burgundy analogies float your boat this is Mersault rather than Puligny – but firmly Australian styled. 88/100

Dinner with Monsieur Burgundy #1

michel — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:34:46 +0000

I have had dinner with Mr Burgundy many times but don’t normally write notes – it isn’t the done thing – appreciation is all key with a few double blind wines thrown in. Saturday night was Riverfire so we charred some meat and drank wine while the fireworks erupted. The fireworks exceeded my expectations.

Rodet Corton Charlemagne 1989: someone murmured oxidised, but they always mention oxidised when any white burgundy emerges. Structured and linear – I guessed Meursault 2000 vintage. I don’t think this maker is around anymore.
Chard Farm “River Run” Pinot Noir 20??: quick sip and spit – time to move on – not very complex
Hudolet Noellat Romane St Vivant 2006: bright young fresh plenty of acid but complex sous bois and fruit
Mugnier Clos de Marachele 2006: geez this is big – can’t believe at cellar door I thought this was a Chambolle. More Gevrey like today – ripe rich ballsy – is it Burgundy?
Rousseau Clos St Jacques 2006: primary pastille jube like, wonder if the magnum made it look dramatically younger than the other 2006s
Jean Michel Guillon Mazis Chambertin 2000: drink now open non complex 2000 but appealling

Father’s Day wines

Lincoln — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:51:49 +0000

A few wines on the bench yesterday:

Bouchard Meursault “Charmes” 2005: My first 2005. A very pale straw. Glossy lemons, fine acid, not overly ripe, a mineral spine and great length.
Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2011: lime sherbet, a bit of soap, punchy aromas, fine acid, good length, very nice with seafood
Meerea Park XYZ Chardonnay 2009: solid, more peachy, but not too fruity
Penfolds St Henri 2002: very young, more raspberries and acid, elemental
Lake’s Folly Cabernets 2004: varnishy, medium-light bodied, okay I suppose

Meerea Park XYZ Chardonnay 2009

Lincoln — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:21:37 +0000

No picture for this wine; it can be a pain in the arse to find bottle shots, then edit and upload them. Anyways, this wine was bottled October-ish last year, and though I did wait a couple of months for it to settle, there was still a touch of sulfur lurking in the corners. Moving on, the nose was gorgeous, big peaches and figs, glossy lemons, with some vanilla and cream. The palate is nicely textured, with peaches and grapefruit, minerals, and finishing with lemony pith. Excellent length. At times the midpalate seemed a bit lean, but this didn’t trouble me as the wine is so young and I don’t like wines that are too fruity. One glass wasn’t enough. 13.5% abv. Drink 2011-2014. 92 points. Screwcap. Finally, the RRP is $22, which surprises me – good value here.

Stephane Aladame Montagny 1er cru 2007

Lincoln — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:48:36 +0000

From the Côte Chalonnaise, which lies south of the Côte d’Or, and though considered part of Burgundy, it does not contain any Grand Cru vineyards. I suppose this makes it a poorer cousin, but it can be keenly priced and for those not obsessed with having “Meursault”, “Puligny” or “Chassagne” on the label, can provide a rewarding experience.

Anyways, on to the wine, which is a cracker. Strongly aromatic, with lemon and white peach, vanilla and cream and a touch of nuttiness. The palate showed grapefruit, lemon, spice and cream. There is a lot of sweet fruit running through the mid-palate, but this is balanced by a fine line of acid and a drying mineral edge. Focused, with great length, and positively gnawish. For a French White Burgundy retailing at $50 or thereabouts, it offers tremendous value and excellent quality.

Rated : 90 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $50
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2015
Source : Eurocentric Wine
Website : Stephane Aladame

William Fevre Chablis “Les Preuses” Grand Cru 2004

Lincoln — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:28:47 +0000

Opened last night, initially as some pre-red wine entertainment while I was cooking dinner, but in the end proved to be too good to dismiss and became the main feature. I should have known: the 2004s have been crackers across the board. White fruits, hard green fruits, crushed rocks, hints of lemons and pretty white florals. On the palate, soft and rounded lemony fruits with pears, oyster shells, slate and minerals. Tremendous depth of fruit, a full mouthfeel without any oiliness or overripe character, and most excellent length. Should age well, but is utterly delicious now.

Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Oct09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $100
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010-2015
Source : Cellar
Website : William Fevre

Hoddles Creek 1er Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2008

Lincoln — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:51:05 +0000

I opened this last night to have with some tasty Thai food. An explosive nose that I could smell half way across the room, showing glossy lemons, grapefruit with a hint of slightly unripe pineapple and a touch of spice and gunpowder. The palate displayed bigger flavours, without any overly ripe characters, lemons and meal, expanding through the mid-palate and finishing with grapefruit, sour lemons, a knob of butter and some minerally dryness. A very intriguing wine, silky and texturally pleasing, nuanced and showing some excellent length. Can I have some more please?

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Oct09
Alcohol : 13.2%
Price : $35
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2010-2014
Source : Boccaccio Cellars
Website : Hoddles Creek

Lake’s Folly Chardonnay 2007

Lincoln — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:25:10 +0000

I’ve had the new Cabernets a couple of times; now for the Chardonnay. Typically this wine sells out very quickly, and it is not surprising because it is usually so damn good. This vintage is no different. A sexy and complex nose: peaches and melons, cashews, with a touch of lime juice and a hint of bubblegum. The palate is fleshy and opulent, with lemons and peaches, musky and excellent weight. I feel happy just drinking it. Finishes with some vanilla and nuts. A lovely wine.

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Jun09
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $55
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2014
Source : Cellar Door
Website : Lakes Folly