Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Australia
Australian Chardonnay use to be a bit oaky and big and this one from Soumah in the Yarra Valley has a lot of that.
Its dry with little aromas but a chunk of oak on the flavour front. Your do get flavours of citrus, apple, grapefruit and hints of vanilla but the oak is too much for me. Its not terrible but at £12 a bottle there are better Chardonnays out there.
Supermarkets do sell excellent wine and this Extra Special, Chardonnay from the Barossa in Australia from Asda is pretty good, it may not be a gold medalist at Decanter but what I liked about it is how easy it was to drink.
Its light, medium bodied white with light aromas of peach and pineapple that come though in the flavour, there’s creaminess and hints of oak which are very welcomed. Day 2 and the pineapple came through more but still easy drinking. It lacks in many ways but as I’ve mentioned before with other wines, its a wine for a moment. In this case its in front of the TV or in the garden on a summers day. At £7 a bottle its great value, pick up a box of 6 and just enjoy.
Asda, Extra Special, Chardonnay, 2017, Barossa, Australia
New Zealand does great Pinot Noir and pretty good Sauvignon Blanc. It can do Chardonnay but this one from Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay is not one to drink. The aromas are oak followed by oak followed by oak. There are notes of condensed lemon in the nose but not a great initial feeling. It doesn’t get any better when you taste it, far too much oak. The wife thinks it should have been laid down for a few more years and that should allow the flavours to come out.
At £10 a bottle is not expensive for NZ wine but for a drink now wine it doesn’t work.
Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay, 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand
Soumah does make a great cool climate dry Chardonnay. The grapes are picked earlier than other vineyards and this gives you aromas of green apple and grass that lead into flavors of grapefruit, stone fruit, citrus and herbal notes that isn’t unpleasant. It has great length and freshness and worthy Decanter Silver medal winner. This is a wine that would go well with sea food or sipping it in the garden on a summers evening.
At £20 a bottle its not cheap but its worth spending a bit extra every now and again.
oumah, Chardonnay, 2017, Yarra Valley, Australia
South Africa produces a lot of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay and this Daniel’s Drift from Marks & Spencer is pretty typical. At £7 a bottle (£5 on offer) or part of the M&S meal deal this is an easy drinking white wine.
Its light in colour, fresh and crisp on the nose with smells of ripe melon, apple and hints of citrus. There’s more in the flavour with grass, gooseberry and more lemon coming through. It’s a dry wine table wine with goes well with a supermarket meal or on a summer afternoon sitting in the garden.
Decanter gave it a bronze medal at the 2019 awards with 87 points which on reflection and most of the bottle is spot on and great if you can get it at £5 a bottle.
Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa
Tasmania makes some excellent wines but there are not often seen. Chardonnay, love it as a Burgundy or not as a new world wine. This is pretty good.
You get floral aromas and a creamy texture on the plate with flavours of citrus and grapefruit. Its fresh and youthful and very easy drinking. Decanter World Wine Awards gave this a Commended. Stingy in my view, easily a Bronze medal and possibly a Silver medal in the the right mood.
Have it with pork, salmon or tuna steaks or drink gentle to really appreciate it. At AUD20 a bottle its good value.
Devils Corner, Chardonnay 2016, Tasmania
Yep a sparkling from Brazil, a chardonnay from that well known wine mecca, Serra Gaucha in Brazil. So whats it like.
Its clean looking, straw colour with a fresh apple aroma and hints of citrus and minerals. Its pretty high in acidity and the flavour is more fruit driven than the champagne brioche. Its quite light in both flavour and in texture and very dry. It reminds me of some of the english sparkling wines in Suffolk and Norfolk.
Drink on its own or with fish or chicken. This got 89 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards and that’s spot on.
Garibaldi Chardonnay Brut, Brazil
Rich in colour and aroma. The texture is heavy, thick but works with the richness that is first apparent on the first smell. Aroma and flavours of ripe citrus and oak overtones make this quite heavy in comparison to most commercial Chardonnays out there. That said it’s perfect with a roast turkey and all the trimmings.
At £35 a bottle it’s not cheap, is it worth it? Maybe but I think it’s worth trying and making your own mind up.
Quails Gate, Chardonnay 2013, Okanagan valley, Canada
You get what you pay for! Yep.
McGuigan do some very nice wine but pay more than £10 otherwise you get this for about £7 and you are not doing your liver any good.
First the compliments, the Shiraz is red wine. Thats it. Flubby red fruit flavours, not much aromas, dry but quite light which helps when drinking this. The medals on the bottle, like the Chardonnay don’t come from what’s in the bottle but for the brand.
Chardonnay, citrus aromas which come through on the taste and is joined by grapefruit. Sharp and a but harsh. If you take this to a party, either don’t open it or open it last, pour it down the sink and claim everyone drank it and loved it.
Sorry McGuigan you can do so much better
McGuigan Reserve Shiraz and Chardonnay, Australia
Made with Chardonnay this is a dry sparkling with high acidity. It has fresh citrus aromas which flow through in the taste which are joined by hints of grapefruit and a smattering of lychee and a creamy undertone.
A good example of quality English sparkling wine. At £29 a bottle it’s fair value for English sparkling wine.
Tinwood Blanc de Blanc, English Sparkling