TN: Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2018

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I held a small vertical tasting of the Parterre Chardonnay just over a year ago: http://forum.auswine.club/viewtopic.php?p=1 ... 18#p166580. The tasting note on the 2018 was:

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.

A year on, and this has gained a little more citrus (lemon) and a little less of the stone fruits. Most of the melon and meal has also moved slightly into the background. It's also less creamy on the palate by comparison - although all of the previously noted characters are still present, the lemon now dominates.

I've not come across this before, and assume this is just a stage in its development. Very enjoyable wine nonetheless, from a top vintage, just not what I was expecting, based on considerable experience with this wine over the years.

Cheers
Allan

[DaveS]

Yes, the 2018 is a cracker. A did a vertical at the winery last month 2014 - current vintage and 2018 was the pick for me.

[Waiters Friend]

We finished the other half of the bottle tonight - very similar with the extra air perhaps reducing the citrus notes a little. Maybe a decant last night would have been useful?