"A complex, smoky and reductive bouquet of melon, citrus and apricot blossom reveals creamy, nutty undertones. Moderately long, smooth and creamy, its restrained flavours of peach and lemon finish dry and savoury, with suggestions of minerals."
Jeremy Oliver, The Australian Wine Annual 2009
95 points
“Complex aromas; the palate has tight focus and extreme length; distinct affinities with chablis.”
James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2009
95 points
"The precision and detail of this wine are something to behold. The flavours build and build on the finish, in a sea of delightfully textured, minerally acidity. Pure grapefruit, white peach and lemon flavours jostle with spicy wild yeast complexity and roast nut flavours. Brilliant."
Tyson Stelzer, WBM, May 2008
Highly Recommended
"Comparatively closed on the nose, yet shows a whiff of Burgundian funk to back up the fruit. The varietal character comes into its own on the palate which is persistent and beautifully structured. Give it 2-3 years."
WINEWISE, April 2008
92 points
"Classically varietal – typically classy elegant Yarra Valley in style, modern Yarra Valley Chardonnay in composition. Typical peach melon aromas to start with, then the complexity ensues with citrus lemons and subtle limes, tight fresh nectarines, melded with cashew oak. Touch of leesy character along with some toastiness and biscuity texture in mouthfeel. Well structured, balanced with lively acidity and a seamless length and delicious mouthfeel, long, lingering and rememberable. Try this with Spaghetti Carbonara."
Paul Ippolito, www.webwombat.com.au, 10 March 2008
"Youthful, restrained but complex; minerally, faintly buttery/nutty, but lemon/citrus flavours, too. Long and superbly harmonious."
Huon Hooke, The Age, 2 February 2008
92 points
"...Anyways, on to the wine. I do vaguely remember from the press release that there have been efforts by the De Bortoli winemaking team to get less sunshine in the Chardonnay. I think this is an admirable aim, because I would reckon it would make a wine with more structure and less of the blousey overblown tropical fruit characters. In this regard, there has been success, because the wine showed mainly nectarine and citrus fruits, with a bit of cream, vanilla and gunsmoke, and only a hint of peaches and melon. The palate also showed the nectarine characters, but with a lemon/orange sherbet liveliness, displaying a beautiful fruit purity, savoury without any mealy or minerally characteristics, and admirable length. A lovely wine; drink over the next few years."
Lincoln, (www.winorama.com.au), 31 December 2007
“Elegant, progressive and delivered with musician-like playful style, this is one of Australia’s pacesetting chardonnays. Smells creamy and complex, with figs and quince, gunflint and savoury oak complexity. The palate has poise and elegance, some brighter nectarine tang. Piercing, intense flavour, delicately arranged.”
Sally Gudgeon, 40 Summer Whites, Qantas The Australian Way, December 2007
"Winemaker Steve Webber's team has been working hard building complexity into Yarra chardonnay. This pale example is a subtle melange of nectarine fruit, leesy, earthy and nutty threads, creamy texture and great persistence. If you like the squeaky-clean Australian style, look elsewhere - this is inspired by Europe."
Ralph Kyte Powell, The Age Epicure Wine Style, 28 November 2007
"The extent to which Australian winemakers have moved away from the Dolly Parton-style chardonnays of the past shines through in this elegant Steve Webber creations. It is light gold with olive green tints and has white peach and vanilla bean scents. Finely structured nectarine flavour shows on the front of the palate and citrus and yeasty fruit characters integrate with almond-edged oak on the middle palate. Smooth flinty acid features at the finish. It would be ideal with wiener schnitzel, Atlantic salmon and prawn paella."
Newcastle Herald, 24 October 2007
89 points
"Waxy, vanilla, citrus, lees, melon, ripe peach aromas. Round, elegant, fresh and dry palate with good crispness and viscosity. Melon, citrus, mineral, green apple, vanilla, butter, peach skin flavours. Finish has a bit of bitter grapefruit rind and toasty lees. Good food wine in a cooler style from Oz."
Anthony Gismondi, www.gismondionwine.com, 13 September 2007
91 points
"Light yellow. Explosively perfumed spiced pear and lime aromas are given depth by cured meat, toasted grain and dried herbs. Almost shockingly lithe and precise following the nose, with its bright citrus fruit and zest flavors accompanied by nervy minerality and gentle oak spices. The tangy finish boasts excellent persistence. Allow this some cellar time."
Josh Raynolds , Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar ( USA ), July/August 2007
Yarra Valley Estate Grown Chardonnay 2006, January 1970
