Barrel fermentation, ageing the developing wine on lees (the spent yeast cells), and sometimes a malolactic fermentation can bring nutty, buttery flavours to the original chardonnay fruit flavours that can range through citrus, peach and melon to tropical. Done well, all this makes for delicious chardonnay.
BEST VALUE
- Three and a half stars (out of five)
- Good value
Aromatic with floral hints and suggestions of peach, citrus, melon and tropical fruit, this isa lively, full-on, mouthfilling wine with undertones of creamy, toasty nuts, and a long, crisp,textural finish.
- Three stars (out of five)
- Average value
Fresh hints of melon and citrus with undertones of burnt caramel and nuts, and a livelyfinish.
- Three stars (out of five)
- Average value
From the coolish climate of the South Australian Adelaide Hills, this wine hints of goldenpeaches, citrus and cashews with an attractive nutty undertone and a crisp, textural finish.
Versatile and particularly good with well flavoured food.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Good value
Mellowed and textural with underlying nutty notes lifted by hints of lime and vanilla, this isa complex wine with integrated flavours, good balance and a crisp dry finish. Drinking well now.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Average value
Fragrant with hints of grapefruit and honeydew melon, a suggestion of nuts, buttery toast andsmoky herbs, this is silky-textured and deliciously complex with well balanced supporting oakand a long finish. It will develop with bottle age.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Average value
A stylish, complex wine, with nicely integrated hints of mineral, fruit, nuts, caramel andtoasty oak, mellowed but with a crisp, bright finish and long, satisfying aftertaste.
ANOTHER GLASS
Redmetal Vineyards Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010, $17
- Three stars (out of five)
- Average value
With floral, herbal aromas with hints of peach and nuts, this is a simple fresh wine withattractive fruit and a bright finish.
Sacred Hill Wine Thief Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010, $30
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Below average value
Here's one for oak lovers - initially it smelled like wood shavings in a carpenters' shop, and,although it toned down after 20 minutes in the glass, toasty oak and nutty buttery undertonesstill dominated the ripe fruit, but it's a rich, mouthfilling wine with a crisp, if oaky, finish.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
