
After a fantastic year and a half here at Butlers, talking customers ears off about niche winemaking decisions, soil types and organic farming, I am embarking on the next stage in my winemaking journey - I will be moving to Australia to work the vintage season in the Yarra Valley.
A cool region to the east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is particularly well known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although in its warmer pockets you will find Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and small parcels of Italian varieties such as Nebbiolo.
Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021 - £21.99
An approachable and good-value example of a classic Yarra Valley Chardonnay, with balanced oak contributing spice and cream notes to the bright citrussy fruit. As it warms in the glass more developed fruit notes of nectarine and pear come through, reflective of the region's long growing season. A charming all rounder that pairs easily with a variety of food, suited especially well to chicken and fish with buttery or creamy sauces.
Here are a couple of other favourites of mine from our Australian range:
Hayes Family Wines Sam's Grenache Barossa Valley 2021 - £27
It is only fitting that a wine bearing my name is right up my alley! Grenache has undergone something of a renaissance in South Australia, where it was previously used primarily for blends or made into overoaked, overripe monsters, the new wave of wines balance luscious full fruit with refreshing acidity and a lovely transparency of flavour.
A selection from 3 vineyards in the northern Barossa, in the region's best vintage for over a decade, vinified using minimal intervention by renowned winemaker Andrew Seppelt. Vibrant aromatics including raspberry, blood orange, tamarind and black tea lead into a silky palate with juicy fruit and a lingering spicy finish.
Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Margaret River Chardonnay 2017 - £29.50
Yes, it's another Chardonnay... I couldn't help myself, especially as this beauty has, now, with a few years of aging in our cellar become a bit of a bargain for a mature wine of this quality! (The current release 2023 is priced at $95AUD or about £50)
The Margaret River region, while young, has developed an outstanding reputation for premium wines, and Flametree's Sub Regional Series is devoted to showing the unique character of its different areas. They source fruit from the most outstanding growers and utilise wild fermentations and judicious oak to allow the quality of the different terroir to show through.
Flinty and smoky notes are the first impression on the nose, giving way to lemon curd and white peach with a hint of granola. A precise and intense palate, with a lovely core of lemony acidity alongside richer hazelnut and baked apple notes.
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