Levantine Hill is the newest kid on the block among the Yarra Valley big guns. With deep financial backing and ambitious plans, it has caused quite a stir. Key to the estate’s development was the recruitment of winemaker Paul Bridgeman from neighbour and Yarra Valley doyen Yarra Yering.
Although it draws on mature estate plantings, which are partly being remodelled to deliver the quality the new owner is seeking, new vines were planted on steep slopes around the family homestead which is situated a kilometre or so from the cellar door.
Katherine’s Paddock is one of several super-premium wines produced from the relatively young vines planted on these slopes. At $150 per bottle, it is priced at a similar level to Giaconda Estate Chardonnay, a wine with a 25-year history of exceptional quality.
On the evidence of this botte, Levantine Hill Katherine’s Paddock Chardonnay deserves to be ranked among Australia’s best examples of the variety. Stylistically, it errs toward to the fully worked end of the spectrum, which is no bad thing. It is compact in scale with more than enough structure by way of acidity to hold things in check. This is textbook Chardonnay of the highest quality, a possible signpost of things to come from Levantine Hill.
2014 LEVANTINE HILL KATHERINE’S PADDOCK CHARDONNAYProducer: Levantine Hill
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $150.00
Date tasted: 20 August 2015
Tasting Note:
Bright golden yellow. Attractive nose of pear, white nectarine and acacia overlaid by spicy oak. Medium bodied, round and gently creamy in texture. Stonefruit and pear to the fore intermingled with high class spicy oak. A fine line of zesty acidity holds it all in check. Delicious and may improve over the short to medium term.
Score: 17.5+/20
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