Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2009

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I last looked at this wine at an offline in Melbourne nearly two years ago. Here's what I said then:

"Voyager Estate 2009, Margaret River, WA: A little leaner and not as acidic as the Hoddles Creek 1er, but still with grapefruit / citrus, along with a streak of minerality. The oak was less dominant also. A clean, long finish – Tom reckoned the wine suffered a little in comparison by perhaps being too clean."

Time has filled this wine out nicely. Not as lean, with the citrus and grapefruit heading into nectarine and white peach. The fruit and oak are filling the palate nicely. Still clean with a long finish courtesy of the acid, but more in balance than it was at previous tasting.

I'm now looking at the longevity of these wines. I have 05, 07, and 08 as well as this vintage in the cellar, and, for a guy who has (a long time ago) stated that Aussie chardonnay won't go over 5 years, opening this at 6 years definitely blows that theory away. A very good wine indeed.

Cheers
Allan

[Hacker]

Allan, I have a case of this stashed away, does it still have the stuffing to improve and go another 5 years, or is it peaking now?

[Waiters Friend]

Allan, I have a case of this stashed away, does it still have the stuffing to improve and go another 5 years, or is it peaking now?

I'd be having a look at one now, and see what you think. If it goes another 5 years, I think it is unlikely to get much better.

[Waiters Friend]

Allan, I have a case of this stashed away, does it still have the stuffing to improve and go another 5 years, or is it peaking now?

I'd be having a look at one now, and see what you think. If it goes another 5 years, I think it is unlikely to get much better.

G'day Hacker, if you're reading.

Opened another one of these tonight, and it's still looking pretty good at 9 years of age. Pale yellow in colour, and many of the features of the original tasting note still apply. Grapefruit, nectarine, but signs of secondary development. If anything, the acid is now slightly prominent with fruit fading, but refreshing, clean and satisfying nonetheless.

I know I suggested in 2015 that they might not get much better - but they haven't suffered. They've plateaued.

Cheers
Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

From my earliest days of wine tasting I have always believed that Australian chardonnays had a better abiity to age than the equivalent Californian. Of course it is not the case with every wine but if one buys with care and consideration you will not go wrong.

Cheers .............. Mahmoud.

[Hacker]

G'day Hacker, if you're reading.

Opened another one of these tonight, and it's still looking pretty good at 9 years of age. Pale yellow in colour, and many of the features of the original tasting note still apply. Grapefruit, nectarine, but signs of secondary development. If anything, the acid is now slightly prominent with fruit fading, but refreshing, clean and satisfying nonetheless.

I know I suggested in 2015 that they might not get much better - but they haven't suffered. They've plateaued.

Cheers
Allan

Hey Allan, of course I’m reading! Thanks for the update. We are at Boomerang Beach for Easter, and I should have packed a Voyager. Margaret River rules!
I usually grab a six pack of this every year, together with Pierro and LEAS. Oh, and Vat47 and Holyman and Scarborough and....

[Waiters Friend]

Opened my second-last bottle of this tonight. The yellow colour is just tinged with gold.

There's still grapefruit and nectarine, but the secondary characters have really kicked in - with nutty and savoury characters both on the nose and palate. Acid is still providing a little freshness, and without this the wine would be unbalanced in the extreme. The combination of developed fruit and the secondary savoury characters give the impression of a little viscosity or texture but the wine ultimately finishes cleanly.

Not likely to improve, but still more than drinkable now. Enjoy!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Sounds lovely Allan, your description very much reminding me of the 2009 Greywhacke Chardonnay. A friend of mine who tasted the Greywhacke blind thought it very much like a rich Meursault.

Some of these new world chardonnays rock!

[Waiters Friend]

Final bottle!

Now fully gold in colour. Compared to October last year, fruit has diminished further, and the wine is now out of balance as a result. The remainder of October's tasting note still applies, and the impression of viscosity has altered to a slight butteriness. Acid is now slightly dominant also.

Not as enjoyable as last year, but still drinkable, although definitely on the decline.

Cheers
Allan