2006 ESTATE CHARDONNAY
DECANTER, AUSTRALIAN CHARDONNAY PANEL TASTING
March 2011
A mature nose of soft, ripe white fruit, butter and toast. Nutty and mature palate with an enticing, crunchy, creamy character. Great personality.
WINESTATE MAGAZINE
March/April 2010
Smart, elegant and refined and showing great character. Complexity of creamy malo characters mingles with nutty/toasty elements. "Very more-ish," enthused one judge. Four and a half stars.
JAMES HALLIDAY, AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION
2009 Edition
Crisp and tight, the aromas and flavours built around a minerally rather than oaky structure; terrific drive to the nectarine fruit, and a very long finish. Screwcap. Rating: 96. To: 2016.
RALPH KYTE-POWELL, THE AGE EPICURE
23 Sept 2008
After only a few short years of production, Toolangi's Yarra Valley chardonnays are now benchmarks for the region. Would that all Yarra chardonnay was so good. This latest vintage has a complex aroma reminiscent of white stone fruits, green melon, barley sugar and nutty oak, with a pastry-like leesy touch. It tastes lighter than expected but is still appetising and full of interest, with very fine, fresh flavours and satiny texture. It's subtle, dry and elegant with a lovely, lingering aftertaste.
Ageing? Drink over two years.
Food ideas: Salmon; baked snapper.
Five stars.
WINEWISE, VOLUME 26, NUMBER 5
December 2010
Highly Recommended. Remarkably fresh and restrained. Subtle nutty complexity gives an extra dimension to the tight, fresh intense palate.
GARY WALSH, THE WINE FRONT
24 Aug 2008
I like this better than the Toolangi Reserve which, while excellent within its style, I consider over-made. This, on the other hand, is a paragon of restraint and style. Woof! Woof! It opens a bit wild and woolly with sulphide and struck match but quickly settles into a classic restrained style offering nectarine, citrus, nougat and melon - there's a touch of honeycomb too but the overall impression is one of clarity and refinement. Fine boned, flinty and tight with a great acid structure just bursting with freshness and life. Finishes long and juicy with just a touch of spice. Awesome and unbelievably quaffable - the best of both worlds.
ABV: 13.5%.
Drink: 2008-1014.
96 points.
Tasted: Aug 2008.
Closure: Screwcap.
BEN THOMAS, DECANTER, WEEKLY REVIEW
21-27 July 2010
4.5 stars.
Food match: Flounder with a beurre blanc sauce
This wine has had a few years in the bottle to gain complexity and displays seductive aromas of nectarine, melon, nougat and spicy oak with some funky notes as well. It has citrus flavours – lemon and pink grapefruit – along with nectarine. This is really well balanced with excellent length and a spicy cashew finish. It’s easy to see why the folks at Toolangi are keen to show off this wine.
NICK STOCK, WBM 100
June 2008
These latest releases from Toolangi are looking terrific, showing complex modern Chardonnay style and bright cool-climate fruits. Freshly sliced green melon and stylish oak-derived complexity. The palate has terrific freshness and verve, bright acid crunch and savoury nutty flavours building through the finish. Long and complete.
JEREMY OLIVER, THE AUSTRALIAN WINE ANNUAL 2009
Spicy and toasty, with crystalline aromas of lime, melon and grapefruit lifted by scents of dried flowers, butter, vanilla and grilled nuts. It's concentrated and forward, with a round, generous and creamy palate whose lively fruit is somewhat subdued by sweet buttery oak and savoury, mealy and funky undertones. Very well handled, but perhaps a shade overdone and contrived.
PAUL IPPOLITO, BOUTIQUE WINES
www.paulippolito.com.au
Almonds, light biscuit, classic peach melon, a touch leesy and a delightfully light creaminess emanating from a complex nose. A lightness to the palate yet with distinct fruit characters, good oak and minerality. A fine backbone and yet a wine of substance. Superb elegant classy drinking. Very drinkable on its own or with a seafood platter.
Drink to 2012. 95/100 – Superb.
