The Wine Blokes

I love seeing boutique wineries that really understand how quality in the vineyard is fundamental to the wine. You see a plethora of labels that inisist they let nature take its course, use a minimilast approach, and spruke that the wines are the essence of the vineyard. In many cases it may be true, but many also employ convenience viticulture and winemaking and hope the wines stack up, and if they dont, they begin talking.

The other night at Auge Ristorante in Adelaide, along with great company and food, we were lucky enough to taste some amazing wines. Plenty of Italian, some French, some Aussie. But we didnt really expect the wine of the night to be Australian. Not because we don’t think Australia has some gems, but because there we some big guns in the international line up.  The 2006 Savaterre Chardonnay was the wine of the night.

Keppel Smith has employed close spaced planting of the Chardonnay in the vineyard situated near Beechworth in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The close spacing of 7500 vines per hectare allows the vines to direct all their energy into producing fruit with intense flavours and texture.  This then provides a great foundation to employ indigenous wild yeast ferments.

Alcohol: 13%

Blokes Notes:  This wine does what so many struggle with in Australia, a brilliant balance of intensity and depth of flavour, and complexity and elegance.  Initally the bouquet is quite minerally but also a little spice and biscuit type aromas. Very lifted, melons and figs.  On the palate you are immediately taken back by the texture. Full and deep, with intense flavours of walnut and peach, but also some caramel characters. The acid is really well balanced, just lingering in the background to hold it all together. 

This is a beautiful wine that sits at the apex of generousity and balance of flavour and complexity.  Get your hands on some of this.

For more info, visit their website: http://www.savaterre.com