Shaw and Smith
M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, Australia
Pale yellow in colour. A good combination of citrus and stonefruit on nose and palate. Slightly saline at the finish. This Chardonnay is a leading Australian Chardy made at their HQ in the Adelaide Hills. Barb and I first tried the 2019 at a structured tasting at the winery on 31/3/21. We were hugely impressed. This is my last bottle from the home cellar. I restock my cellar most vintages with the M3 Chardonnay. Their Chardonnay from the Lenswood Vineyard is also very good.
Pale yellow in colour. A good combination of citrus and stonefruit on nose and palate. Slightly saline at the finish. This Chardonnay is a leading Australian Chardy made at their HQ in the Adelaide Hills. Barb and I first tried the 2019 at a structured tasting at the winery on 31/3/21. We were hugely impressed. This is my last bottle from the home cellar. I restock my cellar most vintages with the M3 Chardonnay. Their Chardonnay from the Lenswood Vineyard is also very good.
Oct 7th, 2025We first tasted this at the cellar door in March 2021 and were so impressed I gave this 96 points. See previous Delectable note. Very balanced showing roasted nuts, ripe grapefruit and a little sulphidic funk. Palate a little on the delicate side in this showing. This was following the 11 year old Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond which was a hard act to follow and had gobs of sulphidic funk/struck match. Will leave the next Shaw + Smith 2019 Chardonnay for a year or 2.
We first tasted this at the cellar door in March 2021 and were so impressed I gave this 96 points. See previous Delectable note. Very balanced showing roasted nuts, ripe grapefruit and a little sulphidic funk. Palate a little on the delicate side in this showing. This was following the 11 year old Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond which was a hard act to follow and had gobs of sulphidic funk/struck match. Will leave the next Shaw + Smith 2019 Chardonnay for a year or 2.
Oct 8th, 2022I tried an on-special-by-the-glass white burgundy from my favourite wine bar - Hellbound (Adelaide). Wow. Blew me away. Gorgeous, flinty, with flavour shaped from start through to its long finish. Ignorant to a tee, I asked the varietal? Chardonnay. Ok then .. so begun my Chardonnay journey and I’ve discovered the Adelaide Hills does it well. Brings me to this, recommended by @Bob McDonald. and am I glad! At the upper end of my buying range this is worth every cent. Takes me straight to that white burgundy (wish I could remember what it was). Opening with subtle stone fruits (grapefruit first, light peach/citrus following) finishing with a long flinty, minerally finish. Complex, interesting, kept me coming back for more :)
I tried an on-special-by-the-glass white burgundy from my favourite wine bar - Hellbound (Adelaide). Wow. Blew me away. Gorgeous, flinty, with flavour shaped from start through to its long finish. Ignorant to a tee, I asked the varietal? Chardonnay. Ok then .. so begun my Chardonnay journey and I’ve discovered the Adelaide Hills does it well. Brings me to this, recommended by @Bob McDonald. and am I glad! At the upper end of my buying range this is worth every cent. Takes me straight to that white burgundy (wish I could remember what it was). Opening with subtle stone fruits (grapefruit first, light peach/citrus following) finishing with a long flinty, minerally finish. Complex, interesting, kept me coming back for more :)
Apr 11th, 2021Tasting at Shaw and Smith yesterday. This 2nd wine was terrific. Flinty, funky - gentle lees stirring - fermented on solids - 30% French new oak. Would love to slip this into a lineup of Premier Cru White Burgundies - it would fit right in. A triumph.
Tasting at Shaw and Smith yesterday. This 2nd wine was terrific. Flinty, funky - gentle lees stirring - fermented on solids - 30% French new oak. Would love to slip this into a lineup of Premier Cru White Burgundies - it would fit right in. A triumph.
Mar 31st, 2021
Here comes the broken record.
I say it every year but it just keeps getting better 🍾
Here comes the broken record.
I say it every year but it just keeps getting better 🍾
Clean apple and peach notes, some oaky/resinous funk. After an hour hints of matchstick and toast occur.
Very Nice.
Gaining complexity and depth after extended aeration. Up a notch,
Clean apple and peach notes, some oaky/resinous funk. After an hour hints of matchstick and toast occur.
Very Nice.
Gaining complexity and depth after extended aeration. Up a notch,
2019 vintage - Medium gold with banana cream pie, melon, grapefruit and rosehip on the nose with discrete notes of butter and smoke. Medium body and fresh acid with a touch of sweetness. White peach, honeydew, grapefruit, a touch savory with bay leaf and minerality and surprisingly delicate notes of butter and smoke. Finish is kind of short with a little bit of oak bitterness. Nicely intricate wine once you let it open up for a while.
2019 vintage - Medium gold with banana cream pie, melon, grapefruit and rosehip on the nose with discrete notes of butter and smoke. Medium body and fresh acid with a touch of sweetness. White peach, honeydew, grapefruit, a touch savory with bay leaf and minerality and surprisingly delicate notes of butter and smoke. Finish is kind of short with a little bit of oak bitterness. Nicely intricate wine once you let it open up for a while.
Nov 13th, 2021
