Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
Last night I brought a bottle of 1999 Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay to dinner with pretty low expectations. So low, that I brought a bottle of 2006 Tappanapa Tiers Vineyard Chard as a backup. Most of the New World Chardonnays I've had at 12 years of age are tired, but this '99 was remarkably good: medium gold color, citrusy fruit, still lively with a core of bright acids. Maybe a touch on the other side of the hill, but hanging in there nicely, and went well with the lobster.
Joe Czerwinski
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Michael McNally
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Re: Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
Hi Joe
You probably already know this but I think with the way many quality Aussie chardonnay producers are putting out their wines these days we can expect to see a lot more Aussie chardonnays going the distance. Not only are the lighter racier styles that are being produced more interesting to drink now, they will also age much better (IMHO). Perhaps Petaluma were ahead of the pack in this regard.
Cheers
Michael
You probably already know this but I think with the way many quality Aussie chardonnay producers are putting out their wines these days we can expect to see a lot more Aussie chardonnays going the distance. Not only are the lighter racier styles that are being produced more interesting to drink now, they will also age much better (IMHO). Perhaps Petaluma were ahead of the pack in this regard.
Cheers
Michael
Bonum Vinum Laetificat Cor Hominis
Re: Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
Michael,
Yes, in general there's been a notable stylistic change over the years, although I admit to wondering if winemakers are now sometimes almost too obsessed with seeking "fine-ness" at the expense of flavor.
Just checked: my original note from 2002 calls the wine "tightly wound," so I had some inkling that it might last. ABV was only a reported 13.3%.
Yes, in general there's been a notable stylistic change over the years, although I admit to wondering if winemakers are now sometimes almost too obsessed with seeking "fine-ness" at the expense of flavor.
Just checked: my original note from 2002 calls the wine "tightly wound," so I had some inkling that it might last. ABV was only a reported 13.3%.
Joe Czerwinski
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Waiters Friend
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Re: Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
I have to admit to being a convert to the 'aged chardonnay' brigade.
3-4 years ago (if anyone chooses to search) I recall making a sweeping statement along the lines of "Aussie Chardonnay falls over after 5 years of age". My cellar now contains a range of examples that are the exception to that rule, including Cullen, Frogmore Creek, Pierro, Capel Vale, Giant Steps, Cosham, Voyager, etc. Of the 100+ bottles of Chardonnay in the cellar, I reckon 20 or more of them are over 5 years old.
Still, with many chardonnays I won't be pushing it. I probably turn over more chardonnay than any other variety, but I am now prepared to let a few go the distance (well, a greater distance) than I was prepared to previously.
Cheers
Allan
3-4 years ago (if anyone chooses to search) I recall making a sweeping statement along the lines of "Aussie Chardonnay falls over after 5 years of age". My cellar now contains a range of examples that are the exception to that rule, including Cullen, Frogmore Creek, Pierro, Capel Vale, Giant Steps, Cosham, Voyager, etc. Of the 100+ bottles of Chardonnay in the cellar, I reckon 20 or more of them are over 5 years old.
Still, with many chardonnays I won't be pushing it. I probably turn over more chardonnay than any other variety, but I am now prepared to let a few go the distance (well, a greater distance) than I was prepared to previously.
Cheers
Allan
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
Re: Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
Drink 'em up Allan! 
Re: Surprisingly good Petaluma Chard
This may sound a bit harsh (and maybe is) but I feel like some people are living in the past when it comes to Chardonnay (and get the sense that some make comments about "old style" Chardonnay which I am not convinced they know anything about) - a past that I must admit I did not really seem to experience.
Anyway, one point of which is, if another winery representative (cellar door staff, winemaker or whoever) makes a comment about making a newer restrained, fruit driven, acid driven, elegant or whatever style of Chardonnay like it is something new and groundbreaking (and they have moved away from the "old style" Chardonnay) then I don't know what I will do (probably nothing, but I will get more annoyed than I already am). It may be valid in some circumstances but it seems to have become an annoying seemingly trendy thing to say about your Chardonnay and that it by default makes it a better wine (in some cases I have found these "elegant" wines just plain boring, especially from regions that may not be renowned for producing Chardonnay - i.e. this wine has no flavour or character but don't worry it is good because it is meant to be like that - some are very good but I get the impression the quality of fruit is even more important to make it work).
The other point, and more relevant to this thread is that I have not had this experience (at least with "better quality" Chardonnays) that they must be drunk immediately and fall over. This may have something to do with them now mostly being under screwcap but anyway the Chardonnays I have drunk (per below) over the last 6 months, which are from 2005 or earlier (so 5 or years older), with the exception of one did not seem to me (and this may be personal preference) to be particularly close to the end of their life or in desperate need of drinking. Anyway those wines are:
- Leeuwin Art Series 2004 (screwcap): Seemed to have possible room to still improve, at least seemed it could have up to 5 years to go.
- Moss Wood 2005 (cork): this one was the only one I would say looked like it might be past its best, however I was not convinced it may not have been slightly oxidised and thought I may need to double check another bottle. All that said it was actually not bad.
- Moorooduc The Moorooduc Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2005 (screw): It was a bit funky (it is wild yeast) but improved on a second night and probably won't open another one for a few months.
- Lenton Brae Chardonnay 2005 (screw): have drunk quite a few bottles of this (around every 6 months for the last 3 years) and it has not changed that much but think it was looking close to its best when drunk most recently.
- Pierro Chardonnay 2005 (screw): You probably need to like the more "worked style" (not sure if this is meant to be the "older" style) but this looked great and am in no rush to drink the next bottle.
- Chapman Grove Atticus Chardonnay 2005 (screw): again more "worked style" and like the Lenton Brae have drunk a fair few bottles - this one is probably at its best but think will happily remain so for a couple more years at least.
I also have quite a few other 05s or older (eg. Cape Mentelle, Voyager, Hoddles Creek, Toolangi, Giaconda, Main Ridge, Seppelt Jaluka) covering a few different regions that I am not really worried about.
That being said anything that is older than 2005 (which for me is nothing more than 2002) that is sealed under cork I will try and get to sooner than later.
Anyway, one point of which is, if another winery representative (cellar door staff, winemaker or whoever) makes a comment about making a newer restrained, fruit driven, acid driven, elegant or whatever style of Chardonnay like it is something new and groundbreaking (and they have moved away from the "old style" Chardonnay) then I don't know what I will do (probably nothing, but I will get more annoyed than I already am). It may be valid in some circumstances but it seems to have become an annoying seemingly trendy thing to say about your Chardonnay and that it by default makes it a better wine (in some cases I have found these "elegant" wines just plain boring, especially from regions that may not be renowned for producing Chardonnay - i.e. this wine has no flavour or character but don't worry it is good because it is meant to be like that - some are very good but I get the impression the quality of fruit is even more important to make it work).
The other point, and more relevant to this thread is that I have not had this experience (at least with "better quality" Chardonnays) that they must be drunk immediately and fall over. This may have something to do with them now mostly being under screwcap but anyway the Chardonnays I have drunk (per below) over the last 6 months, which are from 2005 or earlier (so 5 or years older), with the exception of one did not seem to me (and this may be personal preference) to be particularly close to the end of their life or in desperate need of drinking. Anyway those wines are:
- Leeuwin Art Series 2004 (screwcap): Seemed to have possible room to still improve, at least seemed it could have up to 5 years to go.
- Moss Wood 2005 (cork): this one was the only one I would say looked like it might be past its best, however I was not convinced it may not have been slightly oxidised and thought I may need to double check another bottle. All that said it was actually not bad.
- Moorooduc The Moorooduc Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2005 (screw): It was a bit funky (it is wild yeast) but improved on a second night and probably won't open another one for a few months.
- Lenton Brae Chardonnay 2005 (screw): have drunk quite a few bottles of this (around every 6 months for the last 3 years) and it has not changed that much but think it was looking close to its best when drunk most recently.
- Pierro Chardonnay 2005 (screw): You probably need to like the more "worked style" (not sure if this is meant to be the "older" style) but this looked great and am in no rush to drink the next bottle.
- Chapman Grove Atticus Chardonnay 2005 (screw): again more "worked style" and like the Lenton Brae have drunk a fair few bottles - this one is probably at its best but think will happily remain so for a couple more years at least.
I also have quite a few other 05s or older (eg. Cape Mentelle, Voyager, Hoddles Creek, Toolangi, Giaconda, Main Ridge, Seppelt Jaluka) covering a few different regions that I am not really worried about.
That being said anything that is older than 2005 (which for me is nothing more than 2002) that is sealed under cork I will try and get to sooner than later.