The Auswine Forum

Any recommendations? This is possibly the last bastion of Australian Chardonnay for me

I know the Penfolds 311 and the Hungerford Hill are possibly a couple of the most well known, any recommendations for any more?

ta

Keep an eye out for Chalkers Crossing. I believe they have a Chardonnay sourced from Tumbarumba fruit.

Campbell Mattinson has recently spent time in Tumbarumba, including looking at the chardonnay from there. A string of reviews have been posted on the Winefront site. Worth a look.

I've enjoyed the Chalker's Crossing Tumbarumba chardonnay. Don't think I've had the Hungerford Hill one. A bunch of bigger company wines use Tumbarumba chardonnay fruit (still and sparkling).

The Barwang 842 Chardonnay. The 2006 certainly didn't disappoint me.

2006 Bidgeebong Icon Series Chardonnay. Lovely drop that I really enjoyed drinking.

OK, I started my unofficial Tumbarumba expedition with the McWilliams Barwang Chardonnay 2007. It's selection was based solely on it being the only Tum Chard I could find in the off license at the time. It's also probably the cheapest (around $15), so possibly a good starting point.

On the nose there's some lovely ripe, but fresh, stone fruit interwoven (I've always wanted to use the term 'interwoven') with citrus. On the mouth it showed fleshy nectarine and peach, with a hint of tropical fruit as well. Lovely medium bodied, gycerol mouth feel. Still holding its freshness too after a couple of years in the bottle.

On first showing, I could have almost mistaken it for a Yarra Chardonnay, but as it opened up the oak and mid palate weight showed it's hand a little more. At times it veered toward the sort of chardonnay the 'ABC' brigade highlight as the reason for not liking the variety, but I thought for the money it was a lovely chardonnay to just drink

Next up will be the Hungerford Hill and the Chalkers Crossing before we move onto the guns of Naverone