Superb Tassie Chardonnay: Delamere Chardonnay 2012

October 6, 2014

Delamere Vineyards Chardonnay 2012 (Pipers Brook, Tas)
12.4%, Screwcap, $40

This Delamere Chardonnay followed me down to Durras Lake camping over the weekend, managing to still look good after two days sitting in an icy slurry squashed up against some beef sausages.The secret here is all about power without alcohol sweetness – it’s compact, with a nose of nougat, mandarin and melon, the oak giving a white peach richness, yet with a palate that never looks oaky or indeed anything but pure and clean. From first whiff it’s undoubtedly a full tilt Chardonnay, the oak toast and melon richness marking this as no modern, Sauv-Blanc-posing-as-Chardonnay. What tips you over the line is that it shows winemaking ‘craft’ and backs it up with vibrance and acidity. Lots of (good) acidity.

In context I’m not surprised why this excites – Delamere has excellent old plantings; in one of the more special places for Australian Chardonnay (table or sparkling wine) and guru Fran Austin (ex Bay of Fires) is now making the wines with husband Shane Holloway (Fran has always been involved, but now this is very much a joint operation).

Delicious Chardonnay that I wanted to drink.  Went seriously well with truffled pecorino too (very fancy camping food I know, but good cheese makes sand in your tent more bearable).

Source: Sample
Tasted: October 2014
Drink: 2014-2020
Score: 18.5/20, 94/100
Would I buy it? Oh yes. Well priced vs the quality too.
Buy online: Delamere website


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  • About me – Andrew Graham


    At 18, I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and environment.

    Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.

    I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).

    Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.

    In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here

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