Shaw + Smith have been renowned for their refreshing and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc for a long time but their skill with Chardonnay is just as impressive. The key here is the high altitude Adelaide Hills vineyards, which enjoy the perfect cool climate conditions that so suit Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
Tasting the M3 blind, it would be easy to mistake it for a village level Puligny. It's elegantly floral, with lifted citrus and a flinty note. The oak is seamlessly integrated and the finish goes on and on. The best surprise is the price; once again this is one of my top value picks of the year.
2020 Shaw + Smith, M3 Chardonnay
Adelaide Hills £125 per 6, in bond (£166.07 inc duty & VAT)
Sourced from 3 vineyards in Piccadilly, Lobethal and the estate’s high-elevation Lenswood block. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented and matured on lees in French barriques and puncheons. The first thing that strikes you is an elegance that is so fundamental to the style and respectful to the elite fruit within. The faintest of oak lifts adds a complexity to start, but the energy and concentration of the fruit become the prime focus on the palate. It's all about chardonnay's finest flavours and a vibrant acidity to drive it long into the future. Now-2030 98 points Tony Love, James Halliday's Wine Companion
Complex nose of smoky flint, lanolin, apricot, greengage, ripe peach aromas. Mostly mirrored on the palate, with focussing, racy acidity, and a lingering mineral streak (think Puligny) and pronounced stone fruit finish. This vivacious Chardonnay is positively vibrating with tension and energy. Crisp and invigorating as it is now, give it a year or two to fill out and it will offer an even more impressive experience. 2023-2030+ Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
Chardonnay is the stand-out wine here with the ability to deliver top quality in a range of different vintages. It was an early hero in Adelaide Hills and has been accordingly gifted many of the best sites, which is one of the reasons for its ongoing success. Winemakers like Michael Downer (Murdoch Hill), Adam Wadewitz (Shaw + Smith), Phil LeMessurier (Corduroy), and Brian Croser (Tapanappa) lead the way for chardonnay made in a modern, refined and powerful style.
- Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
COOL AND CONSISTENT: ADELAIDE HILLS REVEALS ITS RISING STYLES
Thursday, July 2, 2020
