M3 Vineyard Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

We first tasted this at the cellar door in March 2021 and were so impressed I gave this 96 points. See previous Delectable note. Very balanced showing roasted nuts, ripe grapefruit and a little sulphidic funk. Palate a little on the delicate side in this showing. This was following the 11 year old Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond which was a hard act to follow and had gobs of sulphidic funk/struck match. Will leave the next Shaw + Smith 2019 Chardonnay for a year or 2.

Similar to notes of 31 weeks ago here on Delectable. Very pale lemon in colour for a 6 year old Chardonnay. Sulphidic notes on the nose with Citrus and Grapefruit. In the lean style. Next day still plenty of citric acid. It remains a classy modern Australian Chardonnay but I have had better examples.

I tried an on-special-by-the-glass white burgundy from my favourite wine bar - Hellbound (Adelaide). Wow. Blew me away. Gorgeous, flinty, with flavour shaped from start through to its long finish. Ignorant to a tee, I asked the varietal? Chardonnay. Ok then .. so begun my Chardonnay journey and I’ve discovered the Adelaide Hills does it well. Brings me to this, recommended by @Bob McDonald. and am I glad! At the upper end of my buying range this is worth every cent. Takes me straight to that white burgundy (wish I could remember what it was). Opening with subtle stone fruits (grapefruit first, light peach/citrus following) finishing with a long flinty, minerally finish. Complex, interesting, kept me coming back for more :)

At the Shaw and Smith cellar door tasting yesterday. From their aged release programme. One of those occasions when the younger wine (M3) shows much better the older Cuvée. A creamy texture over the 2019 without the Flint and minerality of the younger wine. A great match with triple cream Brie.

Tasting at Shaw and Smith yesterday. This 2nd wine was terrific. Flinty, funky - gentle lees stirring - fermented on solids - 30% French new oak. Would love to slip this into a lineup of Premier Cru White Burgundies - it would fit right in. A triumph.

From half bottle. In the last few weeks I have had the 2014, the 2015 (my cellar) and the stunning 2019 at the cellar door a few days ago. This 2018 covers the house style of sulphidic struck match notes. Somewhat lacking in fruit although there are ripe citrus notes. Needs a few years to show its best - refreshing citric acid to finish off.

Some funky smoky sulphidic nutty notes on the nose. The palate is in the leaner style - more savoury and mineral than fruit driven. A modern Australian Chardonnay showing earlier picking giving a more delicate light to medium weight palate with citric acid and good persistence. Will be visiting the Cellar Door in the Adelaide Hills at the end of the month and hopefully catch up with Delectable friend @Scott Rowe

#chardonnay #adelaidehills #australia when I first tasted this wine blind in a lineup of other Chardonnays from around the world it didn’t seem that great but now, Tasting it on its own without comparisons it is quite delicious and very elegant.

Brilliance.
This had been open in our fridge for 4 days and drank superbly the whole time.
At least a decade left in it.
Very partial to our brand.

Here comes the broken record.
I say it every year but it just keeps getting better 🍾