Bob McDonald

9.4

Winner of the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge from 680 entries in 2014. See previous Delectable note. Those modern leesy, flinty, struck match and smoky notes have come together nicely at 11 years of age together with nectarine. Delicious - sadly my last bottle - wish I had a few more. Yet another great producer of top quality Chardonnay from Margaret River. — 24 days ago

romo

9.4

Rises above the cloud layer to match dripping rib-eyes. 🥩 Constant interplay between savory and brambly concentrated fruit. Wow. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Brief notes. First of 6 had with 500 grams of Mooloolaba King Prawns for Easter Sunday lunch......a great match. The characteristic dried pear notes on nose and palate. Wonderful palate intensity and length with moderate acid. Very enjoyable. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

A punchy nose with struck match, honeyed lime. Stone and flint. Rick and great acidity subtly laced throughout. Excellent — 2 months ago

with BOT, Jean-Francois and 2 others

Tom Heckert

9.2

Wine auction winner. Smooth and subtle. Finish to match. Cherry tobacco notes. Paired with grilled ribeye steaks — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Last bottle of this very impressive Chardonnay. Still very flinty and burnt match on the nose with a slightly sweeter palate than the last note. That grapefruit in its youth is now more yellow peach. Technical notes - using the P58 clone. All grapes were hand harvested prior to whole bunch pressing to French Oak puncheons - 30% new oak. Malolactic conversion was prevented. Drinking at its peak - made by one of Australia’s leading exponents of Chardonnay In David Bicknell. This is world class! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Strong sulphidic notes of struck match. Lean in the palate for a Margaret River Chardonnay - citrus and grapefruit. Balanced and well made as always with a big future. — 3 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Bob McDonald

9.7

At my 2015 Chardonnay Challenge the Giaconda was a consensus 3rd. Easily the most smoky, sulphidic, struck match of the 6 wines. I loved it. On the palate a powerful wine. Opulent. This wine is becoming difficult to source and sells out in a flash upon release. — 2 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

Tried side by side. Tasting these since 2009. These are now classic wines. The vineyards are very close to the tree line of the western slope of the black forest in Baden. Who knows what these clones are? May be the Cluny Monks brought them up from France. These are world class Grand Cru level Pinots and are stupid underpriced. With age they turn into incredible beauties which easily match GranCru Burghs. Will be a 10 in 5 years from now. The Muschelkalk is always lighter in color ethereal and elegant. Black forest thyme, touch crushed marble, wild sour raspberry, hint of black forest morello cherries, cranberry, Mexican lime, green moos. This needs to uncoil over night to really get the potential of this. Quite acidic. 12.5%. A stellar vintage. And sleeping beauty. I would say not approachable for a novice at this point. Lucky for me my neighbors get it. Revisit in 2031. — 8 months ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

I wanted this to match a more serious & somber moment, but my last bottle may have been moving out of its grace period: I found the deeper Pinot Noir style volcanic fruit has become more shrill & a one note? perhaps a slightly compromised bottle? Or is it maxed out at 11 years? — 3 years ago

with Owen