Print this Wine         1998 Clarendon Hills "Kangarilla" Chardonnay   CLARENDON                 January Release   Chardonnay       There is no doubt that Roman Bratasiuk likes White Burgundy. Whilst this wine is very much an Australian Chardonnay it owes more than a little to the gentle slopes just outside of Puligny and Chassagne. Immediately you can tell that this wine has immense concentration due to the rich deep gold hues and the persistence of this color right to the rim of the glass. It says to you "You are not going to miss me!" The aromas on the nose are pure Burgundian in origin and rely heavily, no doubt, on the traditional production methods of barrel fermentation, extended lees contact and barrel stirring. The flavors evident were spicy notes like nutmeg and cloves, butterscotch and caramel, creme brulee and mealy biscuit notes. Underneath all these so called complexing flavors comes the fruit which is very much in attendance. There is a fruit salad in fact comprising primarily of peach, pear and melon. Whilst the winemaking induced flavors tended to be more obvious on the bouquet, the fruit showed its true power and weight on the palate. The same fruit flavors that appeared at the end of the bouquet are all there on the palate. In particular the melon and peach are the most evident. The creaminess is evident in both flavor and texture. There are many layers to the wine and it can be enjoyed over a long period of time. Do not drink it quickly as the flavors evolve and develop in the glass. The finish is lingering with good acid levels. The wine is still very youthful and it will develop at least in the medium length time period, say up to 8 years. It may well age beyond this period but it is best to be conservative with the aging expectations for Australian Chardonnay. Still this individual is drinking superbly as a youth. The rich nature of the wine and the complex array of flavors and nuances lends this wine to extravagance when it comes to food matching. Serve it alongside the finest shellfish, either lobster or crab. Alternatively poultry such as corn fed chicken or pheasant would be superb in matching with this full bodied wine.         How do I download Hi-Res Labels? Shelf Talkers require Acrobat Reader 6.0 click here to download

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