Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2019-2013

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

Fraser Gallop Estate is in the Willyabrup sub-region of Margaret River in W.A. It was established in 1999, with the winery being built for the 2008 vintage. Among other varieties, there’s 17 acres of chardonnay planted. This is a wine I buy each year.

I hosted a vertical of both the Parterre Chardonnay and Cabernet two years ago, and the notes can be found here. Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Twin Vertical March 11, 2020 (Perth) - The Auswine Forum. It will be interesting to see how much the wines have changed in the intervening time. Obviously the 2019 wasn’t available for the 2020 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.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2019: Pale yellow in colour. The nose shows white peach, cedary oak, and some cedary oak. The palate weas far more varied, with lemon, nectarine, banana lollies, stewed apple, white grapefruit, and good supporting acid. The quality oak is slightly drying, and there’s a touch of late. Good length. This was considered a lightweight wine in some respects (or I that just its youth?), and there’s a precise and complex back palate.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2018: Pale yellow in colour. A substantial nose with yellow peach, honeydew melon, and grains / mealiness. The palate is full and rich, with ripe peach, Mayer lemon and well supported by the oak. It’s complex, with some butter / creaminess, and quite a long finish. Well balanced, and highly regarded by the group.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2017: Pale yellow in colour. The product of a cooler vintage, the nose shows citrus, nectarine, pineapple, mango, and vanillan oak. There’s lots of peach and nectarine on the palate, well supported by acid and quality oak. Very long finish. Comments included “intense” and “the complete package”.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2016: Pale yellow in colour. Pink grapefruit, white peaches and candied nuts on the nose. The fruits tended to marmalade on the palate. This was similar to the 2018 but slightly more developed. Elegant and great length.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2015: Moderate yellow in colour. Initially muted nose – savoury notes, stone fruits, ginger, beeswax and floor polish. The palate was described as “robust” by one taster – there’s tangy lemon, freshening acid and good length. Also described as “balanced”.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2014: Medium yellow. The nose shows a mix of citrus and nutty oak. The palate shows surprising youthfulness, with fresh lemon juice, tangy freshening acid, lemon/lime barley water, and slightly grippy oak. It’s complex and finishes quite long.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2013: Medium yellow. There’s spicy lifted oak on the nose, with stone fruits, honeydew melon and no citrus at all. This has aged gracefully, and is fuller and richer than a couple of previous vintages. Long finish.

Wine of the tasting was the Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2016, followed by the 2018. These were similar in style. None of the wines appear to be close to decline, and the ageing potential of these wines is apparent.

Cheers
Allan

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[Michael McNally]

Thanks Allan

How do you think this wine compares to the Hoddles Creek (noting that they are almost twice the price).

Interested in your thoughts

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

How do you think this wine compares to the Hoddles Creek (noting that they are almost twice the price).

You may have guessed that we tasted both sets of wine on the one night. I wrote them up as separate events because they are clearly two different expressions of chardonnay. Being in WA, with a tasting group that understands Margaret River well, I felt it was unfair to present them as a "taste-off" as the Fraser Gallop has bigger, richer and more complex aromas and flavours. A different style.

[daver6]

Allan is being diplomatic The Parterre won hands down in each bracket. However, at twice the price this is the expected outcome. There was a consensus that the Hoddles Creek represented excellent value for money.

[Michael McNally]

Thanks both. I have had the Parterre a few times and thought it pretty good as well. Agree they are different styles (and like both!)

Cheers

Michael

[ticklenow1]

Thanks both. I have had the Parterre a few times and thought it pretty good as well. Agree they are different styles (and like both!)

Cheers

Michael

You had the 2015 Parterre a few weeks back

[Michael McNally]

Thanks both. I have had the Parterre a few times and thought it pretty good as well. Agree they are different styles (and like both!)

Cheers

Michael

You had the 2015 Parterre a few weeks back

That's true! At someone's birthday party I believe. I think Rens has bought one along to an offline as well and I have had a couple of others here and there.

Cheers

Michael

[mychurch]

Drinking a glass of the ‘19 tonight against a glass of the Bannockburn S.R.H. The Bannockburn clearly has the heavier weight of fruit, but it’s also clumsy in comparison. The Fraser wine Is more complex and a better balanced wine. Both are young though and I’m need of a few years in the cellar.