Scarborough 2009 yellow label Chardonnay (magnum)

That's a BIG bottle! No,  I didn't drink it all... 

Well, sadly,  I'm just not sold on this one. Which is a pity because Scarborough do some outstanding bottles of Chardonnay. 

It's overly rich,  it is frighteningly heavy, yellow, and leaves a slimey bitter taste at the end. 

Saying that,  I reckon this is a great bottle for  a party.  It is a good quoff if you like a typical Ozzie Chardonnay, and just because it isn't too my palate doesn't mean it is a bad bottle.  

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2011 Margaret River

This is an absolute cracker.  Just buy it.  A friend recommended this over the Petaluma Chardy and I should have listened.

The smell is heavy fruit with the undertone of no nonsense lime.  I get a lot of citrus from this glass without it being an overripe sickening Verdelho.  It is just downright tasty and I genuinely could not stop drinking it.  I personally found it to be medium bodied.  It wasn't light and didn't disappear, yet it wasn't a heavy awkward glass that sat at the back of your throat like a bad mouthwash.  Everything about this Moss wood is just perfection.  The initial taste is spectacular, the finish is lingering yet not overpowering and the build of different fruit throughout the journey is interesting.  

It is a wine that can be drank in most situations, with most foods.  It is just an excellent, outstanding chardonnay.  More please!

Gemstone Chardonnay 2014 South Australia

This is an organic wine from the Gem Tree winery in McLaren Vale,  and as much as I want to like it,  I just can't.   I bought the bottle from the pizza shop for $20 (their wines are generally fairly good),  but this one was way off the mark.
No real taste to talk of and a slight chemical end to it which made me feel I was in space,  drinking clean,  recycled peewater.  (I follow @astrosamantha and @astroterry on twitter.  They are on the international space station right now and they post the most amazing photos!). 

Shaw and Smith Savignon Blanc 2014 Adelaide Hills

 

S&S. I love you

Tonight's tipple is the illustrious Shaw and Smith Sav blanc.  I haven't any of their stuff before, but having this lovely sav has put them on my radar.
On initial contact, it has the tiniest-weeniest little bit of fizz which dissipates to a nice honey and pear finish.  There is no nasty acid and it has a pleasantly long lasting finish.

One thing that I found interesting, is that the wine has zero colour.  It is really really pale.  I initially thought, oh dear! another wishy-washy white (can you tell i'm not a white fan?!?!), but oh my, its delics.

Clear as the light of day

I had this wine with a plate of heirloom tomatoes and bocconcini.  It was delicious, however I'd like to pair it with a tart lemon chicken or sweet potato dish.  I reckon the honey taste would compliment starcy potato or soften the acid lemon.

For a change (and this rarely happens!), I am actually very pleased with my choice.  If its hot, you can't stomach a red, or you just fancy a white, then start here.  You won't be disappointed.
 

Hunter Valley: Where to go?

Update:  20th Jan 2018

A+:  Lakes Folly
http://www.lakesfolly.com.au

20/1/18 Update:  Phone ahead to see if cellar door is open as they don't have much stock left.

My personal favourite.  This is a boutique winery and produces a rather small 4500 (approx) cases each year.  They only have 2 wines, and both French style red and white are amazing.  This is my Hunter valley true love winery because they only use grapes from their own block so no buying in from big producers.  I like this.  Their cabernets and chardonnays are amongst the best in Australia.  If you want to visit here, I would suggest that you call ahead.  They run out of stock fairly quickly and close the cellar door to avoid disappointment.  If you do sadly miss the opportunity to taste the glorious cab, then come again another year and come at the right time of year (April). 

Lakes Folly

1.  Meerea Park (cellar door is at the tempus two winery)
https://meereapark.com.au/

Meerea park is outstanding.  It is famous for its Alexander Munro (the grandfather) and Hell Hole, and rightly so.  These are brilliant long lasting wines.  Not quaffing, only cellaring and for enjoying with the right people.  

Definitely try their cheaper Shiraz and XYZ Shiraz if available for tasting.  If you like, grab a dozen as they are great to take to bbq's, but cellar a couple for 5+yrs and I reckon they will be super tasty!
 **I was lucky enough to try the 'Black'.  If you are a wine snob you *must* try it, but be warned that you will want to buy a bottle and it is expensive.

2. Petersons at 552 Mount View Road
http://www.petersonswines.com.au/

So pretty up on the hill

Not to be confused with Petersons Champagne House!  Try and get an audience with Jon the Pom.  He eats breathes and sleeps these gorgeous wines and if you get to taste "The Pom" you will be trying a wine that matches his brilliance.  If you like a hunter Shiraz, ask for their old block tastings.  These bottles retail $50 upwards so they don't always have them available to try.  
This is one of the few family run and owned vineyards in the hunter valley, so please support them buying a bottle if you do go on a tasting there.  
Their wine club is great and gives you decent examples of their releases so you know what to buy.  
Lastly, they occasionally have a delicious sparkling moscato.  Get it if they have it.

That's Jon the Pom.  He rocks!

3.  Piggs Peake
http://www.piggspeake.com/

Go here for the grenache ($70).  The crew are a lovely bunch, and they will take you out the back if you ask nicely.  They are a small producer so please again, buy a bottle if you taste.

4.  Gun dog estate
http://www.gundogestate.com.au/

This is one that I found very recently.  I like their Shiraz, in that it is not the traditional peppery strong hunter version.  Try here if you fancy dipping your toe into a different type of hunter wine. 

And now for the bubbles!!

A+ Pierre Wines

www.pierrewines.com

20/1/18 Update:  Finished off my last bottle of this celebrating 2018 NYE.  The zero dosage was a hit with everyone, including the folk who "don't like champagne".   It is time to pop up again, say hi to Peter and get another case.

Over Easter I discovered Pierre wines.   This tiny producer has the best champagne style fizz in the Hunter. 

Don't be put off by the 10 min drive from the hunter valley gardens at the Broke & McDonald junction to Branxton,  it really isn't that far and it is so worth it. 

My personal fav (unusually so as I'm a blanc de blanc girl)  is the Chardonnay Pinot mix with zero dosage.  It fizzes delightfully on the tongue,  with suitably small bubbles and the taste development is second to none.  At only $40 a bottle,  get it now before he falls prey to the stupid price hikes that is becoming the norm in the Hunter. 

Stonehurst 
http://www.cedarcreekcottages.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=217555


This is THE best place to get bubbles (because they are methode champenoise), and whilst it is not in Pokolbin, it is on the way.  You can find this brilliant bubbles producer on Wollombi road which is part of the scenic route drive into the hunter from Sydney.  I suspect that this is one of the smallest places you will visit, so please help support them and go buy their bubbles.  They are also organic.  

Map for you:



<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=14EEp3N_egMkKxrolPaI9g-2FmojCVkEL" width="640" height="480"></iframe>

Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2013

RRP $39.99 
Its from the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills.  How cute a name is that?

What a tasty little chardy.  Personally I prefer less of a smack in the mouth from my whites, however if you want something that will match a spicy pasta (Amatricana anyone?) or a carpaccio di manzo then this is your glass.  
The oak is significant, yet not horrible and I get a touch of pear followed by a not unpleasant gingery bite to the back of your throat,

This wine isn't to my taste, but it's not a bad full-blown-good-old-aussie chardy if that is what you are craving.