Ashbrook Chardonnay 2008

[Waiters Friend]

Hello

Regular forumites will probably recognise that Ashbrook is one of my favourite Margaret River producers, and under-rated. Their chardonnay is probably my favourite of their range, and I buy some every year. They're delicious young, but I age a few as well.

This is a really interesting seven year old wine. It's quite complex - lots going on. The nose is rich, with citrus (maybe grapefruit), mealy characters, classy oak, lemon, white peach, cedar. The palate has a touch of butter balancing out the acid, and the oak and fruit are well balanced, flowing through the finish. I may be painting a picture of a big oaky chardonnay - not the case - there's lots happening, and many characters present, but in a clean and balanced package. I'm impressed, and there's still one last bottle in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

Hello

Regular forumites will probably recognise that Ashbrook is one of my favourite Margaret River producers, and under-rated. Their chardonnay is probably my favourite of their range, and I buy some every year. They're delicious young, but I age a few as well.

This is a really interesting seven year old wine. It's quite complex - lots going on. The nose is rich, with citrus (maybe grapefruit), mealy characters, classy oak, lemon, white peach, cedar. The palate has a touch of butter balancing out the acid, and the oak and fruit are well balanced, flowing through the finish. I may be painting a picture of a big oaky chardonnay - not the case - there's lots happening, and many characters present, but in a clean and balanced package. I'm impressed, and there's still one last bottle in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

G'day

As it is now 2016, I've decided to look at the 2009 as well, as it is also now a 7 year old 2009 was a slightly warmer year in WA than 2008 - but the tasting notes are quite similar which reflect the house philosophy and style. If anything, this appears a fraction more developed than it's older sister, and slightly hotter, but still a very good wine. If anything I might have to drink the last couple of these before looking at the 2008 again.

Cheers and welcome to 2016

Allan

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I thought it was worth having a look at the next wine in the series - the 2010 is now 6 years old and I don't think I have looked at it for a couple of years. It has a fair bit in common with the 2008 and 2009, with similar balance between oak, fruit, acidity and secondary development. If anything, this seems slightly more savoury than the other two, and would probably be a better food wine. It has a little less butter and a touch more grapefruit, but we're quibbling over small differences here - the house style is showing well and the wine is (as expected) a very good one. It will last another couple of years but probably won't improve greatly. Enjoy!

Allan

[ticklenow1]

I agree Allan, Ashbrook does fly under the radar somewhat but their Chardonnay is exceptional VFM and ages very well. I have a bit in my cellar and it never disappoints.

Cheers
Ian

[Waiters Friend]

Following the theme through, I've opened the Ashbrook Chardonnay 2011. 2011 was possibly the best vintage in Margaret River in the last 10 years, and I think it shows in this wine. The trademark French oak is here, along with grapefruit , citrus, nectarine, and little signs of secondary development. It's fresh with clean acidity, modest tannic grip on the palate, a hint of savouriness (probably also derived from the oak) and considerable length.

This is probably the best of the four vintages tasted in the past month. Extremely well balanced now, but should go another 5 years without effort. Great stuff, and still maintaining the Ashbrook trademark style.

Cheers
Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

Good to see people appreciating aged Chardonnay. Of course they have to be well made and have the structure and acidity to be able to withstand cellaring. Sometimes it is difficult to gauge which ones to cellar but clearly the Ashbrook is one of them. Unfortunately it's not available here in Edmonton.

Mahmoud.

[swirler]

50% stainless is a curious one. Maybe common in Chablis, but rare for an Aussie chardonnay?

[Waiters Friend]

The 2012 is showing the remarkable consistency of style that is evident from the previous vintages. 2012 was almost as good a year as 2011 in Margaret River, and the same tasting note largely applies. If anything, this is slightly less full flavoured - possibly the only sign of vintage variation, and possibly a function of being a year younger. Clean, fresh, and total balance between fruit, oak and acidity. Delightful

Happy Friday to me!

[Waiters Friend]

My first taste of the new vintage chardonnay. Pale yellow in colour. Nutty oak and nectarine, white peach and grapefruit. Similar palate to the 2011 "It's fresh with clean acidity, modest tannic grip on the palate, a hint of savouriness (probably also derived from the oak) and considerable length".

I think the oak has been dialled down slightly, but otherwise, this maintains the line stylistically. Will improve over several years.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

Following the theme through, I've opened the Ashbrook Chardonnay 2011. 2011 was possibly the best vintage in Margaret River in the last 10 years, and I think it shows in this wine. The trademark French oak is here, along with grapefruit , citrus, nectarine, and little signs of secondary development. It's fresh with clean acidity, modest tannic grip on the palate, a hint of savouriness (probably also derived from the oak) and considerable length.

This is probably the best of the four vintages tasted in the past month. Extremely well balanced now, but should go another 5 years without effort. Great stuff, and still maintaining the Ashbrook trademark style.

Cheers
Allan

Another look at this wine, 2 year later. It has become deeper in colour in the past 2 years, but still yellow. There's more richness and development, showing in some autolysis and greater palate weight. Some citrus, but also some toasted grains, yellow peach and vanillan oak. Possibly at its best right now.

[Waiters Friend]

The 2013 shows consistency with surrounding vintages. 50% of the wine is barrel fermented in new French oak, and matured in the same oak for 8 months.

Bright yellow in the glass, with a blend of stonefruits (yellow peach and nectarine) and citrus (ripe grapefruit) on the nose, along with some honeydew melon. Cedary oak is integrating nicely at the 5 year mark, providing some grilled nuts and savouriness. The palate has some liveliness (tangy?) from the citrus and acid, and there's a little tannic grip and dryness. There's some texture to the finish, which adds a little richness and length.

Good wine - happy to have a few more of these resting peacefully in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

Hello

Regular forumites will probably recognise that Ashbrook is one of my favourite Margaret River producers, and under-rated. Their chardonnay is probably my favourite of their range, and I buy some every year. They're delicious young, but I age a few as well.

This is a really interesting seven year old wine. It's quite complex - lots going on. The nose is rich, with citrus (maybe grapefruit), mealy characters, classy oak, lemon, white peach, cedar. The palate has a touch of butter balancing out the acid, and the oak and fruit are well balanced, flowing through the finish. I may be painting a picture of a big oaky chardonnay - not the case - there's lots happening, and many characters present, but in a clean and balanced package. I'm impressed, and there's still one last bottle in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

I've opened the last remaining bottle of this wine, three years after last tasting it. Definitely golden in colour, but still bright in the glass.

Definitely fully evolved now, but many of the elements referred to three years ago remain: mealy characters, grapefruit /lemon, white peach, cedar. The nose also has the touch of butter that was previously the domain of the palate (so aroma as well as mouthfeel). Acid still provides some freshness, and there's complementary savoury characters alongside the developed fruit.

The wine is still pretty much in balance - maybe just slightly too developed, and it's definitely a 'drink up' proposition. I'd better have a look at the 2009s …..

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

As it is now 2016, I've decided to look at the 2009 as well, as it is also now a 7 year old 2009 was a slightly warmer year in WA than 2008 - but the tasting notes are quite similar which reflect the house philosophy and style. If anything, this appears a fraction more developed than it's older sister, and slightly hotter, but still a very good wine. If anything I might have to drink the last couple of these before looking at the 2008 again.

Allan

Opened my final bottle tonight, nearly 3 years after the last one.

Deep yellow gold in colour. Lovely developed stonefruit aromas, savoury characters, some vanilla, and meal / grain. The palate has most of these with some added cordial-like citrus, supporting acid, and a slightly grippy mouthfeel. It finishes long and clean. Possibly a little past it, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Cheers
Allan

[Michael McNally]

It finishes long and clean. Possibly a little past it, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Cheers
Allan

That's exactly what you want from your last bottle. Your approach is paying dividends!

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I thought it was worth having a look at the next wine in the series - the 2010 is now 6 years old and I don't think I have looked at it for a couple of years. It has a fair bit in common with the 2008 and 2009, with similar balance between oak, fruit, acidity and secondary development. If anything, this seems slightly more savoury than the other two, and would probably be a better food wine. It has a little less butter and a touch more grapefruit, but we're quibbling over small differences here - the house style is showing well and the wine is (as expected) a very good one. It will last another couple of years but probably won't improve greatly. Enjoy!

Allan

As I have a tendency to do, I make statements like the above, then forget that I still have a couple of bottles to go. Still yellow in colour with no signs of heading to gold (or worse, brown). The aromas would bely the wine's age: nectarine and peach, cashew nut and a touch of vanilla. Most of the citrus has gone, showing in a slight cordial-like character, but not prominent. The palate is quite full, with peach compote, savoury and developed characters, leading to a long finish. Acid is still in a supporting role, and may account for the remaining freshness in a somewhat developed wine.

Definitely not going to improve, but still looking pretty good. I have one remaining bottle, which will form the last in a vertical tasting sometime in 2020.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

The 2013 shows consistency with surrounding vintages. 50% of the wine is barrel fermented in new French oak, and matured in the same oak for 8 months.

Bright yellow in the glass, with a blend of stonefruits (yellow peach and nectarine) and citrus (ripe grapefruit) on the nose, along with some honeydew melon. Cedary oak is integrating nicely at the 5 year mark, providing some grilled nuts and savouriness. The palate has some liveliness (tangy?) from the citrus and acid, and there's a little tannic grip and dryness. There's some texture to the finish, which adds a little richness and length.

Good wine - happy to have a few more of these resting peacefully in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

This hasn't evolved a great deal in the intervening time. Now yellow in colour with gold tinges. The stonefruits are still up front, but there's a bit more of the cashew, and a touch of savoury, all hanging together really well. The palate is also in balance, with acid providing some freshness to support the developing fruits, nutty characters and texture. Most of the individual characters are not prominent, but the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Probably at its peak, but will hold for a while.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Allan,

How do you manage to get different topic headings under the one - i.e. all the different Ashbook vintages in the same thread.

I have one 2013 Margaret River chardonnay in my cellar. It's the Devil's Lair and according to them 2013 was a great vintage and expect their chardonnay to develop for 10 years. They seem to make their chardonnay in a pretty similar fashion so I can well imagine the Ashbrook to follow the same path. For the record I have not had the '13 but cellared it based on having tasted the '12 which was impressive in its own right.

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

[Waiters Friend]

Hi Mahmoud.

I actually held a twin vertical of Devils Lair - Chardonnay and Cabernet - a few weeks ago. I lost the notes on the night, which is why a write up didn't appear here. Mea culpa - it was a a very good event.

We had DL Chardonnay from 2018 to 2010. The 2013 was fine, but didn't stand out from the crowd. No rush to drink it, but probably not going to improve greatly.

Also, Ashbrook and Devils Lair are about 40 km apart, and show different characters as a result. I am holding an Ashbrook Chardonnay vertical shortly and I hope I don't lose the notes.

Cheers
Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

Allan, this thread alone is like an Ashbrook Chardonnay vertical!

[Ian S]

Hi Mahmoud
Start a reply and then look at the little box above, with the heading 'subject:'. Type the new heading in there.
Regards
Ian

[Mahmoud Ali]

Here goes.

[Mahmoud Ali]

It works!!!!