Bellwether
Tamar Valley Chardonnay
Tamar Valley, Tasmania, Australia
Very pale lemon in colour. Grapefruit notes on nose and palate. Mineral notes with a bit of funk. In the lean style still with brisk acidity. Bellwether is a Coonawarra winery but Sue Bell sources this Chardonnay from the cool climate Tamar River in Tasmania. When I did vintage in early April at Bellwether a refrigerated tanker of the latest vintage arrived from the Tamar River which we then transferred into a combination of new and one year old oak puncheons for maturation. An excellent wine for its genre.
Very pale lemon in colour. Grapefruit notes on nose and palate. Mineral notes with a bit of funk. In the lean style still with brisk acidity. Bellwether is a Coonawarra winery but Sue Bell sources this Chardonnay from the cool climate Tamar River in Tasmania. When I did vintage in early April at Bellwether a refrigerated tanker of the latest vintage arrived from the Tamar River which we then transferred into a combination of new and one year old oak puncheons for maturation. An excellent wine for its genre.
Nov 11th, 2021
Two years have passed since the last tasting.
Still phenomenal, a great wine.
One of the few I wish I had more of, which seems to happen more often these days 🧐
Two years have passed since the last tasting.
Still phenomenal, a great wine.
One of the few I wish I had more of, which seems to happen more often these days 🧐
Very pale lemon in colour. Tasted after the Premier Cru Hubert Lamy and similar in many ways - the texture, the acid, the citrus the subdued oak influence, but not as much minerality or salinity. Made by Sue Bell at her Bellwether winery in Coonawarra from Chardonnay grapes from the Tamar River in Tasmania. A good wine in the leaner style - showing the quality of Tasmanian Chardonnay. Consistent notes 88 weeks later on 9th December 2020. Chablisesque. Grapefruit notes. Still bracing acidity.
Very pale lemon in colour. Tasted after the Premier Cru Hubert Lamy and similar in many ways - the texture, the acid, the citrus the subdued oak influence, but not as much minerality or salinity. Made by Sue Bell at her Bellwether winery in Coonawarra from Chardonnay grapes from the Tamar River in Tasmania. A good wine in the leaner style - showing the quality of Tasmanian Chardonnay. Consistent notes 88 weeks later on 9th December 2020. Chablisesque. Grapefruit notes. Still bracing acidity.
Mar 30th, 2019Showing the brilliance of Tassy whilst sitting in an old barn in the Coonawarra.
Dreams are made of these days.
Steve & Sue doing these grapes justice.
Showing the brilliance of Tassy whilst sitting in an old barn in the Coonawarra.
Dreams are made of these days.
Steve & Sue doing these grapes justice.
Bigger than expected, still fresh and youthful at 5 years of age
Bigger than expected, still fresh and youthful at 5 years of age
Nov 1st, 2014One of the best Australian Chardonnay's I've had. Not too over-oaked and slightly leaner than anticipated but yet so giving and textural. Acid is sitting reasonably tight. Notes of brown lime, ripe honeydey melon, crushed hazlenuts and nougat, preserved lemon and funky sulphides a plenty. Palate delivers with its tightly wound lime-like acidity and a delivery of flavour reminiscent of bickfords lime cordial. Get at it.
One of the best Australian Chardonnay's I've had. Not too over-oaked and slightly leaner than anticipated but yet so giving and textural. Acid is sitting reasonably tight. Notes of brown lime, ripe honeydey melon, crushed hazlenuts and nougat, preserved lemon and funky sulphides a plenty. Palate delivers with its tightly wound lime-like acidity and a delivery of flavour reminiscent of bickfords lime cordial. Get at it.
May 2nd, 2016