Not far past Tullamarine Airport near the town of Sunbury lies Craiglee winery. Best known for its stylish Shiraz, Craiglee has for many years fashioned a very good Chardonnay.
Historically, Craiglee Chardonnay has tended toward the fully worked, opulent style; rich, buttery and oily. The 2008 Craiglee Chardonnay, while not a shy and retiring creature, doffs its cap to the leaner style of Chardonnay presently in vogue in the Antipodes. There is sweet stonefruit upfront, high class oak not as yet fully integrated.
All in all, it’s a good and honest premium Chardonnay, with time ahead of it. However, for this taster, the upfront fruit sweetness was the main bone of contention.
2008 CHARDONNAY
Producer: Craiglee
Variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2008
Region: Sunbury, Victoria
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $29.99
Date tasted: 22 December 2011
Tasting Note:
Straw yellow with green tinges. Bright nose of forward oak, lime peel and honeydew melon. Ripe and sweet fruited, with lime tinged melon and peach fruit, nutty oak on the finish. Needs another 2 or so years for the oak to integrate fully. A decent Chardonnay, the main detracting factor being the overt fruit sweetness.
Score: 15.5/20
Historically, Craiglee Chardonnay has tended toward the fully worked, opulent style; rich, buttery and oily. The 2008 Craiglee Chardonnay, while not a shy and retiring creature, doffs its cap to the leaner style of Chardonnay presently in vogue in the Antipodes. There is sweet stonefruit upfront, high class oak not as yet fully integrated.
All in all, it’s a good and honest premium Chardonnay, with time ahead of it. However, for this taster, the upfront fruit sweetness was the main bone of contention.
2008 CHARDONNAYProducer: Craiglee
Variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2008
Region: Sunbury, Victoria
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $29.99
Date tasted: 22 December 2011
Tasting Note:
Straw yellow with green tinges. Bright nose of forward oak, lime peel and honeydew melon. Ripe and sweet fruited, with lime tinged melon and peach fruit, nutty oak on the finish. Needs another 2 or so years for the oak to integrate fully. A decent Chardonnay, the main detracting factor being the overt fruit sweetness.
Score: 15.5/20
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