-
97
/ 100
Ned Goodwin MW, James Halliday's Wine Companion -
96
/ 100
Shanteh Wale -
95
/ 100
Campbell Mattinson
White
Classification
Chardonnay
Variety
2022
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Adelaide Hills
Region
13.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
97 / 100"An exceptional vintage for white wines. A lower pH, inherent freshness and phenolic bite, the artillery that delivers the impressive structural latticework necessary for further development. Really classy. Subdued aromas of cinnamon, sesame, quince, ginger and toasted hazelnut, with the barest hint of fruit. Better this way. The mid-weighted palate is pliant, nicely chewy and multilayered. The finish is exceptionally long, although I look forward to tasting again in another six or eight years after things unravel and meld. Stunning chardonnay, aligned with top-tier Chassagne and certainly among the finest tasted in recent memory."
- Ned Goodwin MW, James Halliday's Wine Companion
96 / 100
"A cascade of yellow grapefruit juice, juiced green apples and lime sorbet. Elderflower and Acacia blossoms. A hint of green coconut and lemongrass. It's full of citrus zest with an almond milk creaminess and roast raw macadamia on the finish. Nutmeg, tahini and baked anzac biscuits. A harmony of high tones and deep base notes that presents a birds eye view of Hills chardonnay. There is real power and weight here but with plenty of fruit tension and enough malo buffering. A joy to drink now and will cellar 5-8 years. I can see this served beside a river of raclette on hot bread."
- Shanteh Wale
95 / 100
"This wine is a study in elegance. It has fruit, it’s not underdone, but the mouthwatering lilt of flavour running from start to finish is something to behold. It tastes off citrus, bran, stone fruits, crushed fennel, brine and ginger, a sweet-bready-woody character lingering throughout. But the carry of it, the long juicy length, the gradual reveal of florals; it’s beautifully done."
- Campbell Mattinson
Tasting Notes
The Lenswood Chardonnay is the top white wine in the esteemed Shaw + Smith stable. From blocks three and four in our Lenswood Vineyard. First planted in 1999, it has east and west facing aspects and reaches 500 meters above sea level. The soil is brown loam over clay with some broken shale and stone on the ridges.
This higher-altitude single vineyard in the Lenswood sub-region of the Adelaide Hills presents a more focused and linear style of Chardonnay than the more opulent M3. The quality of fruit here is simply outstanding, as is the care taken during the winemaking process.
If classy, cool-climate Chardonnay is your thing, this is a beautiful Australian example that will find a very happy place in your cellar.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity