2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay (Coal River, Tasmania)

The birth of a second child a couple of months ago has meant that my reviews have been non-existent of late. A state of semi organised chaos has existed in the Red household since no. 2 came along, though as we start to find a routine I'll see if I can't be a tad more productive.

I'm always interested to try Chardonnay from Tasmania. It's yet to produce the amount of world class chardonnay that a number of mainland regions have, though there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this will change over time.

Upon opening the thing that stood out was the high, prominent acid. There was some good grapefruit flavour to match but that acid put me in the mind of a young, bracing Eden Valley Riesling or some such. I can see why the winery has held back the release of this wine more than your average chardonnay. On day two, however, the acid had softened considerably and the quality of the wine came to the fore. Some richer stonefruit and creamy notes are balanced by flintiness and a touch of bitter pith. Excellent line and length of flavour. A high quality chardonnay and one that will still benefit from some time in the cellar. 4 stars.

Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $35
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2016-2021
Website: www.riverdaleestate.com.au


Red