The Auswine Forum

Craig(NZ) wrote:sorta settled on aussie line up being:

1. 04 Giaconda
2. 05 Leeuwin Art Series
3. 05/06 Pierro (pref 05 see what kate can get me)
4. 04/ 05 Yattarna (whatever I can get cheapest?? both good?? any opinions??? ive heard good about both)

then im running out of dosh ($45 a head is ticket price) so:

5. 05 Petaluma or 06 Oakridge

Opinions from those who have tried either would be appreciated!! I have tried the oakridge i think among about 30 other chardonnays so dont remember a thing!!

The Oakridge perhaps but another thought is Yalumba FDW [7c] Chardonnay 2006 which punches way above its weight and would b a good ringer.

cheers

Carl

griff wrote:

Craig(NZ) wrote:sorta settled on aussie line up being:

1. 04 Giaconda
2. 05 Leeuwin Art Series
3. 05/06 Pierro (pref 05 see what kate can get me)
4. 04/ 05 Yattarna (whatever I can get cheapest?? both good?? any opinions??? ive heard good about both)

then im running out of dosh ($45 a head is ticket price) so:

5. 05 Petaluma or 06 Oakridge

Opinions from those who have tried either would be appreciated!! I have tried the oakridge i think among about 30 other chardonnays so dont remember a thing!!

The Oakridge perhaps but another thought is Yalumba FDW [7c] Chardonnay 2006 which punches way above its weight and would b a good ringer.

cheers

Carl

A key thing to keep in mind is the Yattarna vintage you end up getting - 2004 was all sourced from Henty VIC while 2005 was from the Adelaide Hills, so they are very different wines. The 2004 is very tight and minerally with a monster structure and subtle oak (not unlike a Grand Cru Chablis), very unusual for Yattarna and made clearly for the long haul. The 2005 has some new oak and (with breathing) warmer/sweeter peachy fruit in true Adelaide Hills fashion - in style somewhere between Chablis & Meursault, much more approachable now but nowhere near the sweet/oaky mess of the Yattarnas of old.

If you get the 2005 Yattarna I'd probably lean towards the Oakridge, if you get the 2004 any of the Adelaide Hills options of Petaluma/Shaw & Smith M3/Yalumba FDW(7c) could be a good foil.

Cheers,
Ian

I'd flick the 04 Giaconda but anyway...
I generally think M3 is a bit of a yawn wine. any vintage (tried em all) but that's just me.
06 Vasse Felix Heytesbury is another strong performer.
I'd also nobble the expensive Yattarna and push something else in.
I'd stick with the Oakridge too rather than Petaluma.
GW

Thanks guys

Have talked to many people of differing opinions and done a bit of reading myself

Have settled with:

06 Kumeu River Mates
05 Te Mata Elston
05 Neudorf Moutere
06 Sacred Hill Riflemans
06 Ata Rangi Craighall

04 Giaconda
04 Cullen
05 Penfolds Yattarna
05 Pierro
05 Leeuwin Art Series

I decided to keep all big 'label' names on the cards, none are flash in the pan and all have a long history of excellence. OAnce more they are wines I can get my hands on. It was an expensive decision with the Australian wines on average twice the price of the kiwi wines so they better bloody perform

PM me if you are interested in attending, 7/16 spaces left $45 a head. Wines served blind. 24th May 4pm onward.

Well at least you've got plenty of oak there for your money with the Aussie list.
GW

As long as its good expensive oak!

the giaconda i already have and its a good chance for many to try a wine which in nz is extremely rare. parker gave it 96 i read today on the giaconda website so yeah its probably an oak bath hehe. na but seriously ive never tried giaconda and will be good to try it blind in the company of other leading chardonnays to get a read on it for myself.

yattarna is bloody expensive but since im only paying 1/16 of it its worth a look. ive tried 4 vintages of yattarna and every one ive been impressed with. its obviously isnt a trendy wine though in aussie!! once more last time we had this type of event the yattarna came in 2nd place beating all the kiwi wines so its stays based on past performances.

cullen and has had good write ups and got many recomendations for it - and it was available. also seems many people seem to name it in their top 5

We had a vasse felix last time (not heytsberry though) and it was a step down for me. decided to go to another maker this time. the kiwi wines that didnt perform last time (clearview and cloudy bay) i dumped for Ata Rangi and Sacred Hill. KR failed last time but was because the vintage I picked was past its best. This time 3 vintage spread only

Price has made this tasting a bit too expensive for my liking ($45) seems any aussie winery with half a reputation now charges $70 for their chardies...amazing there are dozens over $70!!?? However i really worked to put together a line up with no compromises so will wear it.

i dont look forward to the next morning. I love good chardy but it doesnt love me

Point is your list, and I'd assume it's what you originally intended to go with all along, is a bunch of powerhouse styles. That's fine but it does not represent the full spectrum of Australian Chardonnay. No Macedon, no Yarra, no Hunter, no low oak flinty styles etc.
GW

Savatarre??

2005 Picardy Chardonnay is worth throwing into the mix for Aus chardonnays.

Point is your list, and I'd assume it's what you originally intended to go with all along,

not at all. the only one locked in stone was the giaconda, and the one you insisted on (05 LEAS) is there so i dunno where the inference that i ignored advice comes from??

spectrum is good but was secondary consideration and in the end i just took an average of opinion, combined it with availability and kabang there we go. at least i let budget constraints go as i have a feel that at $50 avg price i would have been limited

i would have like to have more slots, but pushes cost up and chardonnay is tough after 10 glasses no matter what wines you choose.

5 spaces left now