Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2019-2013

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

Hoddles Creek Estate is in the Upper Yarra, and was established in 1997 on the D'Anna family’s property. There’s about 6 Ha of chardonnay planted here, along with pinot noir and other varieties.

It was actually recommendations from this forum that prompted me to try the chardonnay in the late 2000s. I’ve been buying a 6 pack in most years since, hence this vertical tasting.

The tasting was conducted with 8 friends, and we tasted youngest to oldest. As usual for these tastings, the notes below are an amalgam of the group’s comments, and not just my opinion.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2019: Pale yellow in colour. Nutty oak on the nose, followed by white peach, lemon, grapefruit, and honeydew melon. The oak persists through the palate, well supported by acid. There’s also lemon pith, and Jersey caramel on the back palate. A couple of the tasters commented on the luscious mouthfeel and a slightly cloying finish. Reasonable length.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2018: Pale yellow in colour. The fruit comes to the fore on the lively nose, with lemon, nectarine, apples, pears, and orange pith. Oak is supporting only. The palate shows lemon pith and juice (quite tangy), and a slightly bitter finish. Moderate length only.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2017: Moderate yellow in colour. The nose initially showed sweaty gym shoes, but blew off to reveal white peach, lemon and pears. There was also a camphor or slight burnt rubber aroma, which was considered to be a sign of reductive wine making. There’s lemon and lime on the palate, with sharp acid, and oak underpinning (especially from a texture perspective). This was a divisive wine, which personally reminded me of a Riesling with lower acid and the touch of oak.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2016: Moderate yellow in colour. There’s melon, lemon, nectarine and nutty oak (hazelnuts) on the nose. On the palate, the acid seems softer than previous wines, with more lemon pith and spicy oak. Moderate length only, and was considered pleasant without being complex.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2015: Yellow colour. A more savoury nose than previous wines, with cedary oak, stone fruits (especially yellow peach), lemon, dried oregano and lemon thyme. The palate shows more grippy oak and lemon pith, and this is clearly a more developed wine. Moderate length, and the question of reduction arose again.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2014: Light yellow, possibly lighter than the 2015. Developed fruits sit under a savoury nose, with melon, vanilla, water pebbles and seaweed. The palate is quite intense, with lime cordial and sour lemon. Quite high acid for a chardonnay, and some savoury developed characters.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2013: Medium to fuller yellow. Lots of lemon on the nose, both juice and cordial. Some tasters got tropical fruits and sultana, along with some almond husk. The palate shows grapefruit, cranberry and cashew / cedary oak. Good length, with some complexity and viscosity.

This tasting showed a consistency to the Hoddles Creek chardonnays over the years – the core of lemon and citrus characters and nutty supporting oak. Vintage variation is also demonstrated in these notes.

Wine of the tasting was the Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2015, closely followed by the 2013. Maybe this implies that the wines age quite well.

Cheers
Allan

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[Michael McNally]

Thanks Allan

I too am a big fan and think they are great QPR. Best at 5-8 years of age but some like the 2010 still going strong.

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks Allan

I too am a big fan and think they are great QPR. Best at 5-8 years of age but some like the 2010 still going strong.

Cheers

Michael

Agreed, Michael. Over the years I have been drinking them, I generally buy and leave them for 2-3 years before opening one.