A wine from the Yarra Valley in Australia, but certainly of interest to readers here, due to Lorraine and Warren making their Bilancia wines in Hawke’s Bay. A vibrant pale gold colour in the glass – with not much sign of this wine being eleven years old. The bouquet is intense but clean and fresh – you could almost say youthful in its exhuberance. White peach, apple, ginger, almond and lemon peel, with a touch of fresh hay. The acidity carries the palate, with a chalky minerality and a hint of fruit tannin all taking this well beyond just juice and into a complex and well-balanced expression of modern Australian Chardonnay. The finish has great length and harmony. 94pts
Leheny Gibson Chardonnay 2014
Hi David, just wanted to say how much i have appreciated the Wine Maker Series. The lates one on Paul Mason is outstanding, highlighting his new venture, Hidden Vineyard.
Obviously, we would never have known about this tiny project but, to me, such ventures are the backbone of the wine industry. Innovation often comes from these small ventures and sometimes outstanding wines.
Regards.
Greg
Greg – I’m pleased to receive your comment.
Someone said recently to me “You are the best wine writer in New Zealand” which was quite gratifying. I was also in the running for the most prestigious award in the world for wine writing recently – not that I made the final list… but you know… it is nice to have some small moments of recognition.
Even simple comments like you just made, make a big difference to someone who is quietly working away at what they believe in, and sometimes wondering if anyone’s listening.
Thanks.