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April/May
2008
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Wine Review
Archive - Australia, Chardonnay
($14). Aromatic and lush, offering focused,
lively nectarine and melon flavors. Finishes
long and creamy. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 12/04)
($7). Totally enjoyable
flavor package combining pear, citrus,
herbs and light oak notes. Balanced. Versatile
with food. Ready to drink now. We found
it in a 1.5L size for about $10. Heck
of a deal. Refreshing as an aperitif,
or pair with anything from salty snacks
to shellfish and salads. (Weekend Wine,
03/01)
($15).
Nice value here, with fresh, juicy apple
flavors mingling with lush tropical
fruit, finishing with a touch of citrus
zest. Refreshing and ready to drink
now. (Weekend Wine 03/06)
($20).
Opulent ripe fig and butterscotch flavors
are balanced by fresh nectarine and crisp
pear, with appealing acidity supporting
it all. Creamy finish picks up hints of
cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. Ready to
drink now and over the next year or two.
(Weekend Wine 03/06)
($8). Didn't get much from this wine,
though to Black Swan's credit, it was
not a case of sweet vanilla and oak overload
to mask a somewhat ordinary fruit profile.
It was just the ordinary fruit profile.
Unanimous ho-hum response. (Though it
did occur to us that this Chardonnay might
make a nice neutral base to doctor-up
for a white Sangria - no backhanded compliment
intended!) (Weekend Wine, 08/03)
($16). Simple, light "bistro
style" Chardonnay, offering clean
pear and apple fruit laced with subtle
spice and oak. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine, 06/03)
($28). Layers of pear, fig, roasted
hazelnut, cream and subtly spicy oak
are sophisticated and linger nicely
on the complex finish. Paired particularly
well with grilled prawns! Ready to drink
now and over the next year or two. (Weekend
Wine, 04/04)
($11).
Good fruit character shines through, with
crisp apple and juicy citrus flavors and
undertones of creamy vanilla and toasted
hazelnut that linger on the finish. Tasted
a little high in alcohol, but otherwise
solid. Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine,
10/03)
($16). We really liked
this for its bright, refreshing character
-- with pure apple and melon flavors laced
with bright citrus. Clean, crisp finish.
Ready to drink now. Great value, too!
(Weekend Wine 04/08)
($11). Racy and bright, emphasizing citrus
and apple fruit with minimal oak. Ready
to drink now and over the next couple
of years. (Weekend Wine, 01/01)
($17). Soft
and pretty, with peach and citrus flavors
that linger delicately through the slightly
spicy finish. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 09/06)
($45). Absolutely gorgeous, with a smoky
oak- and gunflint-accented bouquet introducing
loads of ripe, bold fruit flavors. Yellow
peach, quince, and orange zest meld seamlessly
along with cream, light vanilla and nutty
oak. Very good now and over the next four
or five years. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($48). Rich and opulent, but with appealing,
balancing citrus acidity. Flavors include
pear and tropical melon, with a dash of
grapefruit, along with smoky oak, cream
and earthy vanilla bean. Ready to drink
now. (Weekend Wine 10/05)
($12). Offers an appealing lemony snap
to the ripe tropical melon flavors. Finishes
clean and juicy. Easy to drink now! (Bargain
Wine 08/06)
($16). Nice! Focused and
clean, with zippy tropical and fig flavors
laced with just a dash of citrus and
nicely intergrated creamy oak. Stays
focused on the lingering finish. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 07/05)
($15). Refreshing and juicy, featuring
ripe pineapple and apple fruit layered
with cream and a subtle earthy note.
Ready to drink now. (World Wide Wine
04/05)
($15). With definite citrus and green
apple, this is my kind of Chardonnay.
No oily, buttery silliness here. Just
crisp and light and refreshing. (Weekend
Wine, 09/00)
($9). A nice value from Australia, offering
smooth, ripe tropical flavors laced with
juicy citrus on the fresh finish. Ready
to drink now.
($17). Bright, tropical fruit mingles
with warm spices, juicy pear and toasty
oak in this good value, appealing Chardonnay.
Finishes with a touch of mineral. Ready
to drink now. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($12). Clean fruit flavors with a zing
of citrus acidity and underlying earthy
oak - great bargain pricetag, too! Ready
to drink now. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($23). Absolutely delicious, with lively,
focused tropical and citrus fruit flavors
accented with rich notes, including roasted
nut, cream and spice, that never overwhelm
the refreshing fruit character. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 08/05)
($15). Boldly flavored, with juicy tropical
fruit, crisp apple, and light oak shadings.
Deliciously supple and effortlessly enjoyable.
Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine, 02/03)
($30). Distinctive
bouquet includes lime zest, peach and
a hint of bacon fat. Rich and creamy on
the palate, with clean, focused pear and
peach, wet earth and just a touch of spice.
Nice acidity supports a lingering finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next three
or four years. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($14). Part of the relatively small production
(3000 total cases annually) from a family
owned and operated winery, this Chardonnay
offers full-bodied but clean-tasting fruit
that includes ripe pear, citrus and intense
melon with touches of spicy nutmeg, light
vanilla, and oak. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine, 03/03)
($25).
Smoky and floral notes accent an oh-so-good
balance of focused, crisp pear and white
peach and mineral flavors, with a pretty,
juicy lime and orange zest character
on the mouthwatering finish. Ready to
drink now and over the next 2 or 3 years.
(Weekend Wine 09/05)
($35). Pretty, understated bouquet introduces
pure apricot, pear and orange blossom
flavors. Long, focused finish with just
a touch of sweet cream character and integrated
toasty oak. This was a favorite of a Chardonnay
tasting! Ready to drink now and over the
next three or four years. (World Wide
Wine 01/05)
($15). Lively citrus mingles with ripe
fig and pear fruit, with touches of
cream and toast. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 11/05)
($15). Absolutely delicious, with vibrant
tropical and pear flavors supported with
mouthwatering acidity. Finishes long and
complex, with creamy vanilla and toasty
oak and citrus. Ready to drink now and
over the next year or two. (Weekend Wine
03/05)
($15). An unoaked Chardonnay,
so it's not overly heavy, with moderate
melon and apple fruit accented with touches
of cream and pineapple. Ready to drink
now. (Bargain Wine 12/07)
($30). Complex bouquet offers plenty of
oak shadings, but also ripe fruit. Fresh
flavors include orange blossom, citrus,
nectarine and spice. Ready to drink now
and over the next three years. (World
Wide Wine 01/05)
($14). Appealing
balance of cream, peach and soft melon
notes on the one hand, and bright citrusy
notes on the other. Fresh and delicious
and ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine,
08/04)
($14).
Round and soft, with peaches and cream,
and light citrus fruit. Delicate spicy
oak emerges on the subtle finish. Ready
to drink now. (Richard's Picks, 12/03)
($16). Really
appealing mouthfeel -- still some Chardonnay
weight, but not mouthcoating or creamy.
Concentrated fig, pear and tropical melon
flavors linger nicely through a long finish,
with a subtle burst of citrus at the very
end. Quite versatile and food-friendly.
Ready to drink now and over the next couple
of years. (Weekend Wine 04/06)
($8).
Ripe pear and apple aromas and flavors,
picking up lots of lemon citrus and
bready, toasty oak. Nice acidity.
Good value. Ready to drink now. (Quick
Entertaining, 02/04)
($33). Ripe pear, fig,
waves of spices, vanilla bean, and
a welcome citrus rush on the generous
finish add up to a delicious, beautifully
balanced wine. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years.
(Weekend Wine, 08/04)
($13). Medium-bodied pear and ripe
apple fruit flavors, with a slight
mineral note emerging on the buttery,
creamy finish. (Quick Entertaining,
02/04)
($9). Baked apple and toasty oak on
the bouquet. Sweet, juicy apple and
pineapple fruit flavors, with simple
vanillin oak notes. Ready to drink now.
(Bargain Wine, 04/03)
($33). Full bodied, but showing finesse
and grace, with balanced crisp apple
and lush melon fruit, accented with
freshly grated nutmeg, vanillin oak,
and picking up mineral on the complex
finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next two years. (Weekend wine, 04/03)
($14). Blockbuster-styled wine, with
ripe pear and apple, lime zest, and
toasty spicy oak taking center stage.
Lots of wine for the money. Ready to
drink now and over the next two years.
(Bargain Wine, 02/03)
($14). Citrus and crisp apple
fruit are accented with orange peel and
mineral notes for a refreshing, racy Chardonnay
style that picks up creamy vanilla on
the finish. Ready to drink now. (Robyn's
Picks, 04/03)
($65). Freshly grated nutmeg aromas
and flavors accent the concentrated
pear and peach flavors, picking up toasty
oak, creme brulee and a burst of palate
cleansing citrus on the generous finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next
three or four years. (Weekend Wine 07/06)
($N/A). Fascinating for its aged complexity
and still offering an impressive amount
of vibrant fruit -- it was the hit of
the evening. Ready to drink now. (Picks
& Nibbles 08/07)
($10). Light to medium-bodied, with
crisp green apple mingling with creamy
melon and vanilla flavors. Brief but
clean finish. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 02/05)
($6). This
is what a Chardonnay should be (or at
least what I want it to be) -- smooth
and not too sweet with a tasty citrus-melon
thing happening. And a great golden
color. (ETFOFW, 12/99)
($11). Another
vintage of this perennial favorite,
this one shines with balanced tropical
and orchard fruit, with lighthanded
touches of citrus and oak. Delicious
now and over the next three or four
years. (Weekend Wine, 01/01)
($7). Light and clean
and easy to drink, with juicy apple and
tropical flavors accented with just a
touch of coconut and toasty oak on the
clean finish. Perfect for a hot day. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 02/05)
($11). Tropical up front,
but then appealing juicy apple and acidity
kicks in mid-palate to keep things balanced.
Enjoyed more than previous vintages.
Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 04/06)
($12). Smooth and balanced,
with focused apple and pear fruit, subtle
tropical accents and creamy vanilla rounding
out through the finish. Ready to drink
now. (Bargain Wine, 08/03)
($25).
Distinctive and quite smoky, with focused
green apple, melon and orange zest flavors.
Ends with more, integrated smoky oak and
a hint of warm spice. Ready to drink now
and over the next three years. (World
Wide Wine 01/05)
($11). A really nice deal
on a tasty wine, with appealing nectarine,
citrus, vanilla and kick of spice
that come together on a fresh, medium-bodied
finish. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 11/07)
($65). Fresh
citrusy aromas and flavors accent
ripe pear, fig and peach. Long, focused
finish includes cream, orange zest
and nutty oak. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 10/05)
($65). Created with
the goal of one day becoming the white
wine equivalent of Penfolds Grange,
the 2001 Yattarna Chardonnay vintage
offers layers of elegantly intense
fruit - apple, pear, apricot, even
pineapple - along with nutty oak,
orange zest, cream and spice. Lush,
lingering finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next three or four years.
(Splurge Wine 10/04)
($14). Delicate but concentrated pear
and melon fruit is accented with touches
of hazelnut and creamy oak, picking
up a slight citrus note on the finish.
An elegantly-styled Chardonnay. Ready
to drink now and over the next two years.
We enjoyed it with a creamy shrimp and
pea risotto spiked with lemon zest and
black pepper. (Weekend Wine, 10/02)
($10). Simple tropical
fruit and vanilla oak... and not much
else. Would work best as an aperitif
on hot summer day. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine, 02/03)
($14). Heck of a deal on a beautiful
Chardonnay. Elegant and ripe, with pear
and peach fruit picking up creamy vanilla
oak and subtle citrus notes on the finish.
Lovely, generous finish. Ready to drink
now and over the next three years. (Robyn's
Picks, 12/02)
($17). Slight pine aroma mingles with
fresh citrus and stone fruit aromas and
flavors -- nicely balanced between creamy
and fresh characteristics. Long finish
is peachy and lively. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years. (World
Wide Wine 04/05)
($23). Touches of spicy earth enhance
the complex layers of an array of clean
fruit flavors - from fig to pear to apple
- finishing with toasted hazelnut and
light mineral notes. Full-bodied without
being heavy. Very nice. Ready to drink
now and over the next couple of years.
(World Wide Wine 01/05)
($9). This Chardonnay is a great summer
choice - crisp, but still full of Chardonnay
flavors like peaches and flowers and hazelnuts,
but not as oaky-heavy as some. Great with
food! (Robyn’s Picks, 6/99)
($10). Beautifully fragrant, offering
ripe pear, crisp apple, lime and spicy
aromas and flavors. Ready to drink now.
(Bargain Wine, 02/03)
($9). Juicy and easy to enjoy, with
crisp pear, apple and citrus fruit that
is nicely balanced. Picks up subtle
vanilla oak on the clean finish. Ready
to drink now. (Bargain Wine, 02/03)
($10). This wine is a bargain and packs
a big refreshing punch. Good spicy fruit,
a touch of oak, and a surprisingly solid
finish. Ready to drink now. After a
long hot Texas weekend, I needed a light
but yummy supper. We paired it with
a classic Julia Child fish preparation
-- swordfish steaks baked with sliced
onions, parsley, breadcrumbs and a splash
of white wine. (Weekend Wine, 09/00)
($18). A combination of French and American
oak aging add dimension and layers to
this New World style Chardonnay. Spicy
pear, a touch of almond, a bright finish.
Very nice, especially at this value-for-your-money
price. Drink now or age through 2003.
(Weekend Wine, 05/00)
($23). Marvelous
contrast to the Hunter Valley Show Reserve,
this is a more French-style Chardonnay
made from high-altitude fruit. It is
a delicious mix of apricot, pear, honey,
and lightly toasted oak that is simultaneously
refreshing and ripe. Wonderful. Drink
now. (Weekend Wine, 05/00)
($19). The 1993 Rosemount Show Reserve
is one of my favorite Chardonnays. It
combines the buttery softness of a classic
California with the fruit/herb style
of a French Burgundy. I tasted fig,
apricot, and pear, as well as a hint
of butterscotch. Interestingly, this
wine almost has two finishes. The long,
smooth, creamy vanilla finish and then
just a wonderful hint of acidic fruit.
I love it. Its like two wines in one.
This wine goes very well with a number
of dishes, including Thanksgiving turkey
and all the fixin's. (Splurge Wine,
02/99)
($7). Good structure for a value-priced
wine, with zesty pear and ripe melon balanced
with touches of spice and light vanilla
oak, finishing with a touch of citrus.
Read to drink now. (Bargain Wine, 12/03)
($20). Excellent Chardonnay offers beautifully-structured
tropical fruit, floral notes, creamy vanilla
oak, and touches of clove. Wonderful acidity
and balance. Delicious finish. Ready to
drink now and over the next couple of
years. (Weekend Wine, 03/03)
($18). Exhibits a pretty
freshness on nose and palate, including
juicy pear and citrus flavors. Gets creamy
and rich through the finish, picking up
a touch of spice. Ready to drink now.
(World Wide Wine 04/05)
($15).
Balanced and fresh, with pear, green
apple, lemon zest and a touch of mineral
- all lingering in the solid finish.
Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 04/06)
($14).
Pretty lime blossom and cream notes accent
clean pear and juicy citrus fruit flavors,
with integrated oak structure supporting
a focused finish. Very nice. Ready to
drink now and over the next couple of
years. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($23). Smoky bouquet introduces pure tropical
flavors and creamy notes, ending with
more smoky oak and a touch of juicy citrus.
Ready to drink now. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($14). Quite citrusy and
fresh, with tropical melon and cream
flavors adding body and roundness that
linger nicely through the finish. Ready
to drink now. (Bargain Wine 10/05)
($17). Nice! With mouthwatering citrus
and nectarine fruit laced with toast and
subtle baking spices. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 09/05)
($28).
Smoky oak bouquet introduces mouthwatering
acidity supporting juicy peach and pear
fruit, cream, earth and nutty oak flavors.
Very good now and over the next four or
five years. (World Wide Wine 01/05)
($16). Fresh and vibrant, with focused
tropical melon and citrus flavors - and
not a touch of wood in sight. Nice acidity
from start to finish, picking up a flinty
character at the end. Quite food-friendly.
Ready to drink now. (Winery Spotlight
04/05)
($17). Lively nectarine and smooth tropical
melon flavors are smooth and rich and
laced with citrus zest, cream and butter
notes that linger on the finish. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 10/06)
($12). Ripe, vibrant tropical
fruit aromas and flavors are balanced
with zesty citrus and restrained toasty
oak. A nice overall package. Finishes
clean. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 04/05)
($21). Very pretty, with fresh, elegant
fruit flavors that include nectarine,
pear and subtle citrus and are laced
with cream and stone accents. The whole
package comes together nicely, evolving
through a lingering finish. Lovely.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 03/05)
($14). Rated a "scads
better than the last bunch of wines"
in a recent tasting, offering juicy
peach, focused citrus and orange zest,
and honeyed fig flavors that wrap up
nicely in the generous finish. Nice
winemaking for the money. Ready to drink
now. (Bargain Wine 10/05)
($14). Starts with some
ripe fruit flavors, but soon gives way
to loads of super-toasty oak that almost
has a burnt-toffee character. (Bargain
Wine, 02/04)
($9). Crisp, juicy apple stays present
from beginning to end, with soft
peach and melon along the way. Juicy
finish. Ready to drink now. (Bargain
Wine 08/06)
($9). Loads of
tangerine and lime flavors with
a juicy peach streak. Refreshing,
finishing with a slight mineral
note. Ready to drink now. (Richard's
Picks 06/04)
($9). Medium-bodied,
with apple, orange zest, and peach
aromas and flavors. Straightforward
and easy to drink. Ready to drink
now. (Robyn's Picks, 06/03)
($19). Fruit forward,
with sweet pear, peach and cantaloupe
aromas and flavors, racy acidity,
and good balance. Toasted hazelnut
emerges on the generous finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next year
or two. (Robyn's Picks, 06/03)
($15). Ripe nectarine and juicy citrus
fruit flavors dominate, with generous
toasty oak, spice, and creamy accents.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 01/04)
($15). Deliciously clean tasting,
with balanced tropical and citrus flavors
that linger through the fresh finish.
Could drink this everyday! Unoaked. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
($10). This is a great buy on a well-made
wine from the Kendall-Jackson wine group.
Ripe, creamy, and effusively fruity, but
deftly balanced with outstanding acidity.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 02/02)
($16).
Elegantly spicy bouquet introduces sweet,
juicy pear laced with delicate vanilla
bean, caramel, and citrus. Gets rounder
and richer on the lingering finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next
couple of years. (Weekend Wine, 06/03)
($N/A). A "wow" wine with notable
fruit intensity (particularly given the
age of the fruit), with a smoky nose introducing
sweet pear and apple flavors. Creamy mouthfeel.
Evolves nicely, picking up racy lemon
zest through the elegant, lingering finish.
A beauty. Ready to drink now and over
the next two or three years. (World Wide
Wine 01/05)
($19). Like a "body builder in a
petticoat," offering ripe nectarine
flavors layered with smoky oak, mineral
and almond notes. Kicks in with a big,
lingering finish that maintains a clean
finesse. Ready to drink now and over the
next three or four years. (World Wide
Wine 01/05)
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