Penfolds, Cellar Reserve Chardonnay, Coonawarra

How I long for a big bruising, oaky Aussie Chardonnay and reading previous notes I was confident. Not a bit of it. Pale Gold in colour. The nose is promising and the very initial taste clearly Chardonnay but this is a schizophrenic wine as high acidity confected citrus fruits take over and never leave. As pleasurable as a cold shower and a real surprise bearing in mind the producer, the age and the location. A real disappointment and really cannot …

Seriously good if you like a classic wooded Chardonnay

CellarDoor TWE Tasting (Langham Hotel, Kent Street, Sydney) : Served very cold. Struck match, lemon over stone fruit. Juicy acidity but the reductive note dominates the palate.

Light citrus flavours. Mandarin and tangelo nose.lingering acidic aftertaste. Some oak but mainly mineral and fresh citrus flavours. Great match to a lamb pie.

Single vineyard 14% new oak , no MLF? Colour pale straw with green hues 15/15 Nose med l+ intensity white stone fruits , hint of citrus of lemon and lime , trop fruits make minerality, Flint , struck match , leasy , oatmeal , clean and precise great purity of fruit 29/30 Palate med bodied clean acidity white peach good minerality long finish 40/44 Overall lovely acidity and minerality, excellent fruit purity , responded to aeration , almost needed a …