Of all the Cape Bernier wines, the Chardonnay is the least common. A Chardonnay rarity, but one we want to see much much more of.
Andrew at Cape Bernier has one of the most beautiful vineyards around, situated at stunning Marion Bay on the Tassie East Coast. It's just a tiny plot, and after winning Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year in 2010, the wines are in hot demand.
You could pay $70 or $80 for top Tasmanian Chardonnay from names like Tolpuddle or Stefano Lubiana. But here at Cracka it's a mere fraction of that amount!
How does it taste? Bright floral aromas with hints of flint and smoke. The palate is layered with flavours of grapefruit, fig, lemon sherbet, quince and green apple. The textural mouthfeel is balanced by natural acidity and leads to a long finish. It's a delightful, cool and fresh wine that manages to be rich and powerful yet also full flavoured too. Magnifique!
Vineyard: Cape Bernier's vineyards, located in Marion Bay, are protected from the prevailing breezes as it sits under the Ragged Tier, an ancient volcanic range on Tasmania's east coast. The family owned operation have fast become a stalwart at My Wine Guy for the effortless Pinots. Little did we know that the Chardonnay is even better.
Winemaking: Wild yeast barrel-fermented in multi-age French puncheons, 9 months in barrel, 100% mlf. The mlf is a masterstroke, giving the wine great texture and mouthfeel, the pH still low, the total acidity perfect; pink grapefruit and white nectarine still rule the roost over the oak.
Cape Bernier aim to express the natural features of the vineyard in the wine and this is most important with Chardonnay. Winemaking involves wild and cultured yeast, allied with multi age French oak barrels from several suppliers and forests, together with extended cool temperature post-fermentation development. In most years the Chardonnay is also allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation which further softens some of the natural acidity. The wines are then bottle aged to allow the acidity to mellow before release.
On the palate:A wine of supreme length and wicked pleasure. It's peacocks tail of flavours are abundant with quince, fig, grapefruit, lemon sherbet and a lick of waxy green apples. The complexity comes in two parts - the upfront fragrances are uncompromising, the hint of gunflint and smoke providing counterpoint to the more floral aromas. The texture and mouthfeel, more the second-act and crescendo in a wine that stands around for the minute long applause it deserves. It's a Chardonnay to make you second guess. The quality becoming more pronounced as it aerates in the glass.
This will be a mighty fine wine in a few years time, when the brisk acids begin to mellow and a more round shape of fruit comes through.
Bottle Size: 750ml
Closure: Screw Cap
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