2008 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay Reviews
James Halliday, The Weekend Australian Magazine 18-19 July 2009
96 points
The evolution of the wine continues with 50 per cent Dijon clones, 60 per cent wild ferment (up from 20 per cent in 2005, the first venture into wild yeast). It has a fragrant bouquet of nectarine, white peach and a hint of citrus rind leading into a vibrant, fresh and very long palate; you know the French oak is there, but it speaks very quietly.
Mark Davidson, Wine Cents Australia April 2010
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James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010
96 points
A fragrant bouquet of nectarine, white peach and a hint of citrus rind leading into a vibrant, fresh and very long palate; you know the French oak is there, but it speaks very quietly.
Nick Stock, Wine 100 September 2009
Immediate complexity here, plenty of nougat, nectarine and white peach fruits, gently fragrant nutty oak and sweet white florals. The flavour interplaying in dynamic fashion – plenty of mealy cashew, pear, peach and bran flavour – satisfying length and poise.
Ralph Kyte-Powell, Epicure - The Age 18th August 2009
5 STARS
Cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith have great winemaking pedigrees, so when the created their own label 20 years ago, it was sure to be one to watch. In recent years, they have consolidated their reputation via a line of ever-improving chardonnays. The ’08 continues a trend towards greater subtlety and refinement. The subdued yet intense and complex aroma is reminiscent of grapefruit, white peach and minerals, with a light, nutty overlay. In the mouth, it is fine and tangy, persistent and fine-boned, with a whisper of toasty oak on the finish. In some ways it’s almost Chablis-like in its combination of delicacy, austerity and presence.
Ken Gargett, Courier Mail 8th September 2009
…..M3 sits with this country’s best chardies and has developed a reputation as a wine that not only needs time to reveal its true glories but one that will age superbly. It is perhaps the “best value” when one looks at our top chardonnays.
Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
Silver Medal
Simon Tam, South China Morning Post 30th July 2009
This is another modern Australian chardonnay from the cool and beautiful Adelaide Hills. If you see it come up at auction, don’t pass it up – the magnums of many vintages are ageing well. The current vintage is a perfect match with this dish. The link here is between the clams and the cold climate citrus fruit in the wine; there are some tangerine notes that help to liven up the rice. The restrained creaminess of the wine is the perfect textural platform to enhance and extend the soupy rice.
Fergus McGhie, Canberra Times 5th August 2009
5 STARS
I don’t often say this about chardonnay, but this one needs a little more time in the cellar. At the moment it’s a fine, tense expression of the variety, made with wild yeast, solids ferments and high-class fruit and oak. Give it a couple more years and all these elements will come together. In the meantime, find a bottle of the ’06. It’s drinking beautifully now.
John Lewis, Newcastle Herald 19th August 2009
Over the past 8 years, cousins Michael Hill Smith and Martin Shaw have never failed to impress me with their M3s and that applies in spades with the 2008. The wine has balance and refinement and glows green-light gold in the glass, while bringing crushed almond and melon aromas to the nose. Elegant white nectarine flavour glides onto the front of the palate and gathers in subtle layers of butterscotch, cumquat marmalade and integrated hazelnutty on the middle palate. Mineral-edged acid refreshes at the finish.
Mike Burnett, Launceston Examiner 12th August 2009
Mr Hill Smith said that he was happy with the restraint, palate length and tightness of the latest M3. There is every chance that those who taste it will feel the same way. A mix of citrus and tropical fruit link comfortably, with oak present but again obviously well thought through so it does not interfere. It has enough muscle to make an impact without compromising elegance. The M3 has made its way into the top bracket of Australian chardonnay, and the 2008 vintage should only enhance that reputation.
Mike Burnett, Sunday Examiner 16th August 2009
Australia produces a wealth of chardonnay today compared with the variety’s almost complete absence from the market in this country in 1979. “A fragrant bouquet of nectarine, white peach and a hint of citrus rind leads into a vibrant, fresh and very long palate; you know the French oak is there, but it speaks very quietly.” From Australian Wine Companion 2010 edition.
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times 13th September 2009
Shaw + Smith is all refinement and finesse with potential to build in richness over time.
Jon Helmer, Bellarine Times 6th October 2009
The Shaw and Smith 'M3' Vineyard Chardonnay is a serious attempt to produce a finer style of chardonnay that has the capacity to age in bottle. The 2008 shows a distinct richness and textural quality, with restrained fruit and great palate length and that creamy mouth-feel we all love... grab it if you can.
Matt Skinner, Sun Herald 25th October 2009
Shaw + Smith has had plenty to do with new world chardonnay's return to grace. Controlled and elegant, M3 oozes style and substance. With smells of nectarine, creme brulee, cashew, spice and mineral, in your mouth it's rich and expansive, with flavour that seems to go on forever.
Tony Love, The Advertiser Top 100 Wines November 2009
96 Points - Equal Top Scoring White
Made by hand, picked by hand, whole bunch pressed, all with much attention to detail. The result: lifted fragrant stone fruits and fresh sliced pear, high quality very long palate, pure flavoursome chardonnay. Has the backbone to last 10 more years.
James Halliday's Top 100 Wines, Weekend Australian Magazine Nov 09
96 Points - Equal 2nd Highest Points
The estate -grown grapes are whole-bunch pressed, the wine wild fermented. Shaw & Smith have worked tirelessly to hone the style, its path through the mouth laser-guided in its precision, unbundling all the components of fruit and oak pointless; the finish is breathtakingly long and clear.
Wine Spectator 15th December 2009
Harvey Steiman
92 points
Bright and focused, with nutmeg and hazelnut nuances to
pear and spice flavors on a lean, lively frame.
The KROW Issue 23 November 2009
Tony Keys
It’s a divine Chardonnay nose, very tight on the palate and slightly disjointed as it travels due to youth but already showing incredible potential. This is already one amazing Chardonnay but in time will be a gorgeous glass of wine; 94 to drink tonight but two if not three extra points awaiting it as it matures and superb value at $36-$38
The Australian Wine Annual 2010
Jeremy Oliver
91 points
A forward, slightly confectionery chardonnay with relatively simple aromas of tropical fruits, melon and green olives. It’s luscious, round and juicy, delivering a moderately rich but unctuously creamy, lightly smoky presence of marginally candied stonefruit, citrus and melon flavour, finishing with a mouth-watering sappiness.
Gourmet Traveller Wine December/January 2010
100 Top New Releases
*****
Tightly focussed, restrained yet complex, with potential to age and improve. Subtle mealy, nutty aromas, a hint of nougat, with underlying complexity and lots of detail. In the mouth it reveals concentration and length.
The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010
Nick Stock
93 Points
Complex. That’s what hits you when you raise the glass. There’s every ingredient of fine, fresh nougat, nectarine and white peach fruits, gently fragrant nutty oak and sweet white florals here; it smells terrific. The palate’s layered nicely with texture and flavour interplaying in dynamic fashion – plenty of mealy cashew, pear, peach and bran flavour – with satisfying length and poise. 4 1/2 stars
The Financial Review 12th December 2009
Tim White
92 (93)/100
Deep fruited this, loaded with peach and pear. Some cedary grilled nutty characters with air (so decadent if you want to see it at its best). Plenty of fruit power and long creamy, mouth-sucking pear and nectarine. Not quite in the same league as the ’06 and ’07 but mighty fine.
Grazia 4th January 2010
Greg Duncan Powell
If your Christmas is all about prawns, oysters and crayfish then don’t stint on the wine. This is Australia’s best chardonnay and is magic with cold fresh seafood. Crisp, lithe and sophisticated, it tastes top drawer and is well worth the asking price.
The Irish Times 10th July 2010
John Wilson
This wine generally received rave reviews and it shone at this tasting. An excellent, taut, young Chardonnay with everything in perfect balance.
Matt Skinner’s Wine Guide 2011
Now in the midst of 21st anniversary celebrations, cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith have had plenty to do with New World chardonnay’s return to grace. Controlled and elegant, M3, a wine that has paved the way for Australian chardonnay’s new breed – oozes style and substance. It’s all nectarine, crème brulee, cashew, spice and mineral on the nose; while in your mouth it’s rich and expansive flavour that seems to go on forever. Drink it with roast chicken stuffed with lemon, garlic and thyme.