The Auswine Forum

As I'm on a long, and expensive mission to collect Australia's finest chardonnay, I was lucky enough to get a bottle of the recent release

I know 2007 was a tricky year with lower yields - anyone know of any reports/reviews of the 07?

I know ultimately my opinion is the one that matters, but i'm curious all the same

Ta

As I'm on a long, and expensive mission to collect Australia's finest chardonnay

If you are after Aussies finest chardonnay why are you buying Giaconda??? What has that got to do with your mission??? You are getting sidetracked

Aussies hardest to get fine chardonnay maybe. But finest???

Tried it a couple of weeks back, excellent and I'm not a Giaconda Chardonnay fan. This one is very approachable now.

Craig(NZ) wrote:

As I'm on a long, and expensive mission to collect Australia's finest chardonnay

If you are after Aussies finest chardonnay why are you buying Giaconda??? What has that got to do with your mission??? You are getting sidetracked

Aussies hardest to get fine chardonnay maybe. But finest???

Not with you on this one Craig... I don't believe there is a finer Chardonnay in Australia than a good vintage of Giaconda - powerful yet ethereal... statement obviously subject to the standard vinous disclaimers.

Adair

Adair

Ive learnt that I should never let lack of experience get in the way of a good controversial opinion hehe

Ive tasted Giaconda the grand sum total of once (2004 vintage). It was in a blind line up of 10 top chardies and it came well down the pecking order on that occassion even though it was by far the most expensive wine. It didnt have the elegance, focus or precision of the best.

I would have thought more see LEAS as the king.

I've never tried a Giaconda, but I have had the Toolangi Reserve 2004, which was made there by Rick Kinzbrunner (sic - can't be arsed checking the spelling of his name)

Probably one of the best Aussie Chardonnay's I've tried - very obviously worked, with lots of malo (100% I think) and oak treatment, but subtle and complex. A great wine.

Hoping for similar with the Giaconda...

Don't forget Curly Flat Rawshack (not that I think you would )

http://www.kiwiwinefanclub.co.nz/content/view/507/42/

Heres the write up of the tasting we had including giaconda for those interested

jeremy wrote:Don't forget Curly Flat Rawshack (not that I think you would )

LOL, I haven't tried the 06 vintage yet, but I did manage to snag some of the Williams Crossing Pinot

If you haven't already tried it, I'd give the Lanes End Chardonnay a go - pretty much next door to Curly Flat. the 05 is a ripper of a wine in a similar vain to the CF

Craig(NZ) wrote:Adair

Ive learnt that I should never let lack of experience get in the way of a good controversial opinion hehe

Ive tasted Giaconda the grand sum total of once (2004 vintage). It was in a blind line up of 10 top chardies and it came well down the pecking order on that occassion even though it was by far the most expensive wine. It didnt have the elegance, focus or precision of the best.

I would have thought more see LEAS as the king.

Probably not the sort of wine that is going to show its best in a tasting IMHO...Like sticking a Mount Mary Quintet in with a dozen Coonawarras for eg

Probably not the sort of wine that is going to show its best in a tasting IMHO...Like sticking a Mount Mary Quintet in with a dozen Coonawarras for eg

poor poor excuse in the context of that lineup (which was only 10 wines - we arent talking a wine show here its not gonna get "lost"). The Giaconda was one of the most obvious of the line up, if not the most obvious. Suggesting Giaconda is the "quintet" of chardonnay is ridiculous!

Its a great wine dont get me wrong, all I was suggesting is asserting "Australias finest chardonnay" is a little presumptuous

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Probably not the sort of wine that is going to show its best in a tasting IMHO...Like sticking a Mount Mary Quintet in with a dozen Coonawarras for eg

poor poor excuse in the context of that lineup (which was only 10 wines - we arent talking a wine show here its not gonna get "lost"). The Giaconda was one of the most obvious of the line up, if not the most obvious. Suggesting Giaconda is the "quintet" of chardonnay is ridiculous!

Its a great wine dont get me wrong, all I was suggesting is asserting "Australias finest chardonnay" is a little presumptuous

I agree - a good wine should shine if it's placed along side coca cola, or crappy NZ sauvignon juice (come on Craig, I'm just kidding )

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Probably not the sort of wine that is going to show its best in a tasting IMHO...Like sticking a Mount Mary Quintet in with a dozen Coonawarras for eg

poor poor excuse in the context of that lineup (which was only 10 wines - we arent talking a wine show here its not gonna get "lost"). The Giaconda was one of the most obvious of the line up, if not the most obvious. Suggesting Giaconda is the "quintet" of chardonnay is ridiculous!

Its a great wine dont get me wrong, all I was suggesting is asserting "Australias finest chardonnay" is a little presumptuous

So Craigs had Giaconda one and knows if its the Quintet of Chard or not...I think not...Your note was that the Oak was overdone and it lacks the breeding of the best... For what its worth I had the 05 LEAS against one of the top Chards of your tasting earlier in the year and thought the Leeuwin was miles ahead..Each to their own Iguess..But to say a wine lacks breeding on only ever had one bottle is strange.

Rawshack wrote

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

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jeremy wrote:
Don't forget Curly Flat Rawshack (not that I think you would )


LOL, I haven't tried the 06 vintage yet, but I did manage to snag some of the Williams Crossing Pinot

If you haven't already tried it, I'd give the Lanes End Chardonnay a go - pretty much next door to Curly Flat. the 05 is a ripper of a wine in a similar vain to the CF

Yeah, been meaning to give Lanes End ago, they are somewhere on my list of producers to try (long list, getting there slowly!) Before I order off anyone new I've still got to get my 06 CF Pinot quota (well, you can buy as much as you want I think, but I'm allowing myself 3-4). I hate money

The 06 CF is another ripper, quite different to previous vintages I've tried (03,04,05). I had some with Jeni and Phillip and then just shoved the 4 or 5 bottles I bought straight into the cellar. Like my CF chardonnay at a minimum of 4 years age. Will pull an 06 out at xmas to see what it's doing.

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Probably not the sort of wine that is going to show its best in a tasting IMHO...Like sticking a Mount Mary Quintet in with a dozen Coonawarras for eg

poor poor excuse in the context of that lineup (which was only 10 wines - we arent talking a wine show here its not gonna get "lost"). The Giaconda was one of the most obvious of the line up, if not the most obvious. Suggesting Giaconda is the "quintet" of chardonnay is ridiculous!

Its a great wine dont get me wrong, all I was suggesting is asserting "Australias finest chardonnay" is a little presumptuous

I don't actually believe that Rawshack was asserting it is Australia's finest chardonnay. Certainly on a mission to collect but I get the feeling they don't plan to stop just yet i.e. they plan on buying other 'great' chardies.

JF wrote:plan to stop just yet i.e. they plan on buying other 'great' chardies.

Very true. I've got some bottles of varying vintages of Curly Flat, Leeuwin Art Series, some Kooyong, Toolangi Reserve, Bindi Quartz, Shaw & Smith M3, Devils Lair... It's one of the few things that I'm really prepared to splash out on

Good/great Australian Chardonnay may never reach the lofty heights of great white burgundy, but hell I don't, and never will, have a GWB salary.

Stop it all of you. Craig is now loving this... and I feel terrible as I started this!

Having tasted with Craig in the past, I am very sure that the Giaconda that Craig tasted would not have been showing well... and that particular bottle was not as good as a few of the great Giaconda Chardonnays that I have had.... due to ordinary vintage, bottle shock, randox, etc., etc., etc. (as per my previously alluded to "standard vinous disclaimers")

However, that bottles of Giaconda have beguiled a large number of knowledgeable, experienced and skilled tasters (and me ) displays beyond reasonable doubt that they can be great wines. Whether they are liked by a particular person is irrelevant... and no amount of argument and Craig trolling changes this.

And for what it is worth, I (on average, in general, etc.) prefer a bottle of Giaconda in front of me than LEAS, but I suspect I would prefer a young LEAS over a young Giaconda in most cases... but this to change as cellar age takes its course.

Adair

And for what it is worth, I (on average, in general, etc.) prefer a bottle of Giaconda in front of me than LEAS, but I suspect I would prefer a young LEAS over a young Giaconda in most cases... but this to change as cellar age takes its course.

As I said, nothing wrong with this opinion and im happy to admit i dont have enough experience to have an opinion anyone should bow down to on this one. In fact based on my tasting experience alone id give the title to Yattarna. Im sure that will puzzle some people!!

Just seems presumptuous to me to say Giaconda is the greatest without even a "IMO" in front of it. Surely it isnt that clean cut? Ive read many critics say that of LEAS?

Without the "IMO" disclaimer you have to expect some alternative opinion

Adair we could always drink a bottle of Giaconda next time im in Sydney. By that time that bottle of Wendouree Shiraz of yours that im cellaring free of charge for you in temperate climes may be ready to drink

IMVHO...