2001 RESERVE CHARDONNAY

DIVINE FOOD AND WINE
Feb/April 2003

Made by Rick Kinzbrunner at Giaconda, this welcome newcomer is so 'in the zone' it's not funny. The pristine fruit is from Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley and has been given the full Burgundy treatment. Rich and deep nose packed full of grilled nuts and buttery characters plus some matchstick and mealy notes. The palate has all this and more, with lots of structure and loads of power. The fruit is tightly woven, showing all the attributes of top Australian chardonnay (think Leeuwin, Giaconda, Sorrenberg) plus some funky barrel notes at the finish. Rich and powerful as it is now, it will develop into something else again in a few years' time. A screamer of a debut and definitely worth seeking out.

BEN EDWARDS, TASTINGS, THE AGE
Saturday 3 May 2003

The 2001 Reserve Chardonnay is a medium-bodied wine, full of rich fruit, complex mealy and mineral aromas, and beautifully handled smoky oak.

On the palate, there is a fine balance between fresh, vibrant stone fruits and complex savoury flavours reminiscent of matchsticks and bacon fat. The palate is harmonious and long, with both power and finesse making it delicious now, but a good cellaring prospect over the next five to eight years.