G'day and HNY.
After writing up the 2013 recently, and suggesting I should put them away for a year (as I had done the 2012) it of course meant it's time to look at a 2012 a year after putting THEM away!
Pale yellow in colour, with a nose of grapefruit, cashews and grain. A slight hint of butter, which goes through to the palate (texturally as well as flavour). The acid has softened somewhat since last year, but remains prominent. The palate is a fraction more flavourful than the nose would suggest, but it is not a full bodied wine at this point. It's still lean and taut, and may need a little more time to fill out.
Maybe another 12 months? I'll leave it probably 6 months before I have another look. There's definitely no rush to open this wine.
Cheers
Allan
Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
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Waiters Friend
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Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
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conformistpete
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Re: Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
Tried this side by side with the Frankland River Chardonnay. I didn't mind the tightness at all, very promising for the future.
I think I need to hunt some out here in Vic and take your advice and put it away for awhile.
I think I need to hunt some out here in Vic and take your advice and put it away for awhile.
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Waiters Friend
- Posts: 2787
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Re: Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
G'day
It turns out I left it a little longer than 6 months to have another look. Closer to 18. Served straight out of the cellar.
It's filling out a bit now. Yellow in colour, and the grapefruit tartness has softened somewhat (acid still very present, though). Toasty oak is subtle on the nose. The palate is a little more rich and textural, with white peach and a degree of tannin.
It's looking good now, but I suspect will get better with another year or two.
In the meantime, the 13s and 14s are resting peacefully still ......
Cheers
Allan
It turns out I left it a little longer than 6 months to have another look. Closer to 18. Served straight out of the cellar.
It's filling out a bit now. Yellow in colour, and the grapefruit tartness has softened somewhat (acid still very present, though). Toasty oak is subtle on the nose. The palate is a little more rich and textural, with white peach and a degree of tannin.
It's looking good now, but I suspect will get better with another year or two.
In the meantime, the 13s and 14s are resting peacefully still ......
Cheers
Allan
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
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Waiters Friend
- Posts: 2787
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 4:09 am
- Location: Perth WA
Re: Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
G'day
I've opened my second last bottle of this tonight, after leaving them potentially way too long. The last (recorded) time I looked at this wine was a vertical tasting 4 years ago. This was the note then:
A lower alcohol vintage, yellow in colour. Most of the characters of the 2013 are displayed here (note from the 2013 was "The nose shows yellow peach, grapefruit, cashews, vanilla and honeydew melon. The palate shows savoury oak, good acid, a leesy, creamy mouthfeel, while also showing slate and pebbles"), and even amplified somewhat, but there’s only moderate palate weight and medium length. There’s more lees character, and also flint and pebbles again. One taster described it as Montrachet-like, but it was also considered to be rounder and unbalanced in the final analysis.
What a difference 4 years makes! This has evolved superbly with the secondary characters coming through in striking form. It shows sweet oak (cedar and vanilla) and mature peach flavours, and is approaching a mature white Burgundy in profile and complexity. The palate has filled out and is full and rich, hinting at butter but openly expressing mature stone fruit complemented by grapefruit and citrus tang. Freshening acid is countered by oak-derived texture and mouthfeel, and the wine finishes quite long.
Definitely a better wine than it was in 2020, and that's a surprise. I'm delighted to have one more bottle, but will not leave it another 4 years (although I've said that before!)
Cheers
Allan
I've opened my second last bottle of this tonight, after leaving them potentially way too long. The last (recorded) time I looked at this wine was a vertical tasting 4 years ago. This was the note then:
A lower alcohol vintage, yellow in colour. Most of the characters of the 2013 are displayed here (note from the 2013 was "The nose shows yellow peach, grapefruit, cashews, vanilla and honeydew melon. The palate shows savoury oak, good acid, a leesy, creamy mouthfeel, while also showing slate and pebbles"), and even amplified somewhat, but there’s only moderate palate weight and medium length. There’s more lees character, and also flint and pebbles again. One taster described it as Montrachet-like, but it was also considered to be rounder and unbalanced in the final analysis.
What a difference 4 years makes! This has evolved superbly with the secondary characters coming through in striking form. It shows sweet oak (cedar and vanilla) and mature peach flavours, and is approaching a mature white Burgundy in profile and complexity. The palate has filled out and is full and rich, hinting at butter but openly expressing mature stone fruit complemented by grapefruit and citrus tang. Freshening acid is countered by oak-derived texture and mouthfeel, and the wine finishes quite long.
Definitely a better wine than it was in 2020, and that's a surprise. I'm delighted to have one more bottle, but will not leave it another 4 years (although I've said that before!)
Cheers
Allan
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Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.