Chuck Hayward, JJ Buckley
January 2010
Initially a bit closed on the nose, aromas of restrained fruit appear at first whiff and there is scarcely a hint of the full French barrel fermentation and aging regime. After a few minutes in the glass, untoasted almond and fragrant blossom notes emerge. The palate is explosive in terms of weight when compared to the bouquet. The wine is elegant and restrained, but the power and intensity will catch you unawares. All the flavors are integrated and balanced, but there is a tension, as if the power has yet to be revealed. Experience tells me that the punch from this heavyweight is coming down the track. Finishes with nice, crisp acidity. Don't overchill this beauty, feel free to decant it even. This vintage probably needs a few more years to show everything and ten years is an easy jaunt towards greatness.
97 points, James Halliday
December 2008
"97 points - This is the most pure bred and aristocratic of all Australian chardonnays. It has awesome power, grace, depth and finesse; pure grapefruit, nectarine and peach-flesh aromas are framed by complex, toasty, grilled nuts; the palate is amazingly concentrated, yet portrays a lightness that is completely beguiling and incredibly long." James Halliday Top 100 of 2008, The Weekend Australian
96 points, Jeremy Oliver
December 2008
"96 points - Almost the perfect chardonnay, this sublime wine is astonishingly intense and concentrated; also seamlessly balanced and measured. Its opulent expression of pineapple, grapefruit, guava and mango-like fruit knits effortlessly with creamy, bacony, vanilla and slightly smoky oak, while its underpinned by a chalky mineral texture and punctuated by a chiselled, citrusy acidity. While there's a hint of spirity heat and sweetness at the finish of its exceptionally long and complete palate, it's a stunning exercise in power and control." Jeremy Oliver, The Australian Wine Annual, 2009
94 points, Stephen Tanzer
August 2008
Deep, bright gold. A complex bouquet offers ripe, smoky tangerine, candied ginger, honey, anise and nutmeg. Weighty orchard fruit flavors firm up with air, taking on candied lemon, lime and pear skin character. The spiciness builds and carries into an impressively broad, clinging finish. Leaves vibrant citrus and mineral notes behind, eventually. Recently tasted bottles of this wine going back to the 1987 showed no sign of decline, and in fact were almost shockingly youthful.
95 points, Wine Spectator
January 2008
Round, generous and amazingly fresh, with a juicy hint of grapefruit playing against spicy pear, green guava and mint aromas and flavors that expand and persist onto the long, expressive finish. This just doesn't quit, remaining exquisitely balanced. Drink now through 2017. 500 cases imported. –HS
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