|
|
Search WineStar: |
|
The fruit for this beautiful wine comes off a vineyard managed by Hoddles Creek Estate who control the complete process from vine to retail. Winemaker/inmate Franco d’Anna says Cropped at 1.3 tonnes per acre, only shoot thinned as bunch thinning was not required. Minimal irrigation, hand picked in the morning then cooled overnight. Made the same way as Hoddles Creek, mixture of yeasts, no fining, no enzymes, no acid adjustments and only 20% new oak instead of 30%. Left in barrel for 12 months, with occasional lees stirring. Filtered and bottled. Aromas of citrus, nectarine, a touch of struck match and vanilla and almond essence jump out of the glass. On the palate light to medium bodied with flavours of ruby red grapefruit, tangerine, preserved lemon and a little spice. It’s bursting with intense fruit, and has incredible focus and line courtesy of a spine of strong yet fine acidity - tight, crisp, pure and lengthy. And while perhaps it’s not especially complex (and it’s still a very young wine mind you), the clarity, precision and flavour overwhelmingly persuade me to bump this up to an outstanding rating. I love it and I’ll be buying it. Rated : 94 Points; Alcohol : 13%; Closure : Screwcap; Drink : 2008 - 2013; Gary Walsh; Winorama For the last 3 years while I have been excited to present the latest release from one of the brightest new stars on the Australian wine landscape in Hoddles Creek Estate, all the while questioning for how much longer they can continue to raise the bar of quality given the wines were already challenging others at twice the price. It must cost decent money to produce wines of this ilk. Well Hoddles Creek have answered this question quite emphatically with the release of their second label, the Wickham’s Road range of wines. Made by Franco d'Anna at Hoddles Creek Estate, these are single vineyard wines are made with the same care and attention that has made Hoddles such a success. And at a time when we ask how they continue to over deliver, their first releases under the Wickhams Road label, a pair of Chardonnays, one from the Yarra and one from Gippsland offer almost ridiculous value for just $14.99 per bottle! Seems strange to say it particularly as this has a completely different fruit source, but the Wickhams Road Gippsland Chardonnay 2007 reminds me more of the Hoddles Creek Chardonnay than the Wickhams Road Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2007. It has that Hoddles autographed tight, racy crispness, the spicy intensity, the lemon and lime acidity and the unmistakable purity. It seems absurd suggesting a $14.99 wine will improve but just as I maintain the now famous Hoddles Creek wines require a year, I can see this putting on a little bit of weight over the course of the next 12 months to increase its already excellent rating further. Drink: 2009 - 2016; Quality: Excellent; BW; WineStar© February 2008 Lovely wine and lovely value. Powerful nectarine-like fruit, lemony acidity, a punchy, grippy finish and then - and only then - nuances of nuts and smoke in the aftertaste. For a wine at its price it is very tight and refined. It should develop well over the next 12 to 18 months. Lots of smoky, glycerol texture through the finish. Drink: 2008-2010. 89 points. Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front
|
||||||