Tasting two Adelaide Hills chardonnays tonight has been most interesting. Both the Penfolds 05A and the FDW[7c] involve lots of letters and numbers (a bit like a Winorama tasting note) and are complex sophisticated wines, but not ones made to a formula. This is a small make of 400 cases and uses the Bernard clones of chardonnay 76 and 95 which were selected from vineyards near Beaune and first propagated locally in the late eighties. The FDW (Fine Dry White) spends 14 months in French oak of which 57% is new.

Aromas of citrus, peach, apple crumble, almond nougat and spice. On the palate flavours of nectarine, grapefruit, almond meal and light toasty spicy oak. Excellent texture with a crisp acid attack balanced by light creaminess. Fresh with no heaviness. Very long flinty finish with an almond, spice and lemon aftertaste. Super wine. Great value.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Jun07
Alcohol : 13.5%
Drink : 2007 - 2010