2008 Reserve Chardonnay

 A WINNER ON THE WORLD STAGE

Bronze Medal: 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition

4 Star Silver Medal: Winestate Magazine October 2009

Review: A handcrafted artisan wine. This is a fabulous example of a faintly wooded Chardonnay. It has wonderful mouthwatering aromas of lemon zest while the irresistable flavours of ripe grapefruit and aromatic citrus fruits just dance on the tongue. Single vineyard, whole bunch pressings over two harvests, wild yeast ferment.

A vibrant flavoursome more intellectual style that is drenched with luscious citrus flavours. High quality grapes from our Winter snow covered vineyards in the Granite Belt. This sophisticated wild ferment chardonnay uses yeasts that occur naturally in the vineyard, resulting in exceptional complexity. The length, beautiful complexity and sheer elegance of this wine have elevated it to join the top echelon of world-class chardonnay.

The Granite Belt - at 920 metres, one of Australia's most exciting cool climate high altitude viticultural districts, with the same number of heat degree days as the Clare Valley and Cotes du Rhone at 21.5. Beautiful one day, snowing the next!

A light, crisp, elegant Chardonnay like this Settlers Rise Reserve Chardonnay is a wonderful substitute for Sauvignon Blanc – more texture and mouthfeel and much more food friendly.

Winemaker: Peter Scudamore-Smith, Master of Wine, Viticulturalist and International Wine Judge

Variety: Chardonnay

Style: Full bodied, dry, French Oak - faintly wooded

Region: Granite Belt, single vineyard

Drink: Now for freshness to 2013

Serve: Chilled, best 5-8°c

Wine that loves roasted snapper cutlets, Atlantic Salmon and Blue Eye Cod terrine, cured salmon, lobster in a buttery sauce, roast chicken, pan-fried chicken with a tarragon and cream sauce, pasta with white sauce, seafood with cream or light sauce, roasted cured duck maryland, duck a l'orange, chicken breasts with ginger and coriander mayonnaise, smoked cod and leak tartlets, rich casserole of fish and shellfish, grilled corn on the cob with lots of butter, mild cheddar, gouda, gruyere, Swiss, havarti, brie, camembert, Asian dishes with black bean sauces, scrambled eggs, asparagus quiche, Guacamole, seafood risotto, butternut pumpkin risotto, vegetable lasagne, breaded veal cutlets, antipasti, fresh figs with blue cheese and prosciutto.     Danger Zone: Chardonnay can fade into the background when confronted with spicier dishes.

WINE LOVERS' CHOICE AWARDS: 5 STAR "Unbelievably Good" Gold Medal equivalent (Average of last 500 Wine Lovers' ratings.)