The Auswine Forum

The Willowlake vineyard has built a reputation for the quality of its pinot noir and chardonnay. Adrian Rodda also makes cracker chardonnay from this vineyard.

I took this out of the fridge about 30 minutes before service. Yellow gold in colour. Powerful nose with cashew nuts, ripe peach and nectarines, and a touch of vanilla. There's also modest amounts of lemon in the background.

The palate opens with more of the ripe stone fruits, some honeydew melon, and tangy lemon. The savoury, nutty notes come in towards the back palate, and the touch of vanilla sees the wine out. Acid is supporting but not sharp, and there is modest tannic grip.

There's some richness and complexity, but this is not a heavy or big chardonnay - there's some elegance and subtlety as well. Good wine, and probably at its best.

Cheers
Allan

G'day

A couple of years further on, and this wine has barely moved. SImilar colour. The stone fruits have diminished slightly, and the lemon has become a little more cordial-like. Vanilla has largely disappeared, but some nuttiness remains.

The palate, if anything, has intensified, with tangy lemon becoming honeyed, and the stone fruits belong in a pie. It's richer than previously, but definitely fully developed and unlikely to go much longer.

Cheers
Allan

Waiters Friend wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 12:19 am
and the stone fruits belong in a pie.

I love that description.