2019 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (14) Avg Score: 91 points

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  12/22/2023 - Andrewbdc wrote: 92 Points

  This is absolutely delicious New World cool climate Chardonnay that reminds me so much a good Puligny Montrachet.
  
  Pale lemon. First impression is slightly reductive, but this blows off there quickly to reveal a complex nose of lemon, white peach, butter, vanilla, smoke, hazelnuts, wet stones. On the palate, similar flavours to the nose, but with a lovely balancing acidity. Long finish. Outstanding. Suitable for further aging but why wait?

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  10/20/2023 - Darbus123 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Very reductive on day 1, settled down on day 2. Good acidity, clean and precise fruits which are well balanced making this an elegant drink. I preferred on day 2, so will age future bottles more. Good QPR

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  6/13/2023 - Juliansi Does not like this wine: 85 Points

  For a wine which brings back such memories and one which has a cult following especially in the Adelaide Hills area, we were genuinely disappointed how this showed last night at Olivia's (Thanks to KN for the bottle and the birthday dinner).
  
  This is a modern style Chardonnay, but instead of worrying about the oak control and how buttery it was.. the first notes on the palate was one of bitter!
  
  The nose was mineral-driven with some flint, but we were both surprised with how flat the acidity was and at one point I even thought it was related to the anchovies or other tapas dishes we were having.
  
  Alas, perhaps there was an issue with storage or bottle variation here - Surely Shaw and Smith deserves better and should deliver more!
  
  Founded and established by winemaker Martin Shaw and Master of Wine Michael Hill Smith back in 1989.
  
  Located in Adelaide Hills, Shaw + Smith own two vineyards at Balhannah and Lenswood, which are at 450-500 m elevation and totalling 55 hectares. Planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.
  
  Soils are brown loams over clay with broken shale on the ridges, and planted back in 1999.
  
  Interestingly, the vinification is whole bunch pressed. Fermented and matured on lees in French oak barriques and puncheons.
  
  The 2019 growing season was one that challenged even the most experienced and well equipped. Those that made the most of it produced small crops of very clean fruit with wonderful flavour and intensity.
  
  Natural acidity is a feature in all of the wines despite the warm dry summer, but that simply did not come across in the bottle we had last night.
  
  I also read that they recommend aging up to 10 years, so this 2019 was not "past its best days".
  
  13 Jun 2023
  Olivia's Deli, APW Bangsar - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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  6/13/2023 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points

  Samples from Bill #7: Blind. Orange, vanilla and lemon notes on the nose. Palate leans more mineral here, it's quite lean and clean - though it tails away and only has shortish-medium length. Not bad but not hitting tonight even though I've liked it in the past.

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  6/4/2022 - Tinram wrote:

  A slightly strange experience. Drank over two days. The first day there were obvious toasted notes with a funky touch. Not the wine I remember drinking six months ago. Lots of acidity amidst the slightly earthy notes. Will not assign a score because of the strange appearence. Stored in the fridge until the second day. The funky notes were gone and the wine was much better. Grapefruit, peach and red apples. Oaky notes with some butter. Enjoyable on day two.

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