Ned Goodwin, Super Tuscans Steal the Show, and eighing Burgundy 2021: Weekly Tasting Report, July 2023
Fermented wild in new and used 500L puncheons; matured for 10 months with the occasional stir. Among the country's varietal exemplars. Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavor, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. Aromas of white peaches, toasted hazelnuts, jasmine and nougatine run long. The oak, beautifully embedded, serves as a framing backdrop rather than the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavor and considerable class. 96 Points.
Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Review, July 2023
Masterful. That’s the best way to describe nearly everything that comes out from the Shaw & Smith stable, from the surprise packet Riesling to Hills benchmark Shiraz. This Shaw + Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 is every bit the polished experience, too – a precise expression of modern Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with crystalline acidity and perfect banana cream stone fruit delicacy. It’s a wine to admire, with just this perfect acidity and fine lines. But there’s a voice in the back of my brain that finds it too perfect. It’s like that overt precision means it lacks a little x-factor. It’s too pure, and the less pure M3 might be a more interesting wine. Eh, it’s still high-quality, gold medal stuff, but a fascinating thought exercise on contemporary Chardonnay. Best drinking: now to plenty of years (probably up to ten, but I’d drink within eight). 94 Points.
Shanteh Wale, The Wine Pilot, May 2023
Whole bunch pressed, fermented in puncheons of which 30% was new. Full malolactic fermentation and 10 months in oak. The 2021 vintage has you leaning in a little closer to hear the deft tones of this incarnation. Greengage plums, yellow apple skin and a puff of Johnson’s and Johnson’s talcum powder.
There is sliced lemon blank, sliced okra and golden kiwi. The acumen of site and vintage is well displayed here with a real restraint shown to highlight the fine edges and detail in the mild vintage. Despite its balletic grace the power still drives down the middle palate like long legs in shadow, they continue to grow. This will age very well. A lovely drink that deserves a little bit of hush to really enjoy. Drink with chilled yabbies and the thinnest sheet of pork lardo resting on top. 96 Points.
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, May 2023
Sweet ripe fruit with bitterness and savouriness inlaid. Gorgeous wine. Grapefruit and peach, pear and peanut brittle, wild flings of fragrant herbs. The length, flow and harmony of this combine to sensational effect. Mineral, tonic and lemonade-like characters linger through the aftertaste. An absolute treat. 96 Points.
Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal, March 2023
Pale colour. Intense white peach, white apricot marzipan tonic water aromas with honey vanilla notes. Beautifully balanced wine with fresh stonefruit, lemon curd flavours, fine lacy textures, superb creamy complexity and underlying marzipan vanillin notes. Finishes long and minerally. A top-notch Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with amazing flow, clarity and persistency. Drinking beautifully now. Why wait? Drink now – 2028. 98 Points.
Halliday Wine Companion - 100 New Tasting Notes, March 2023
Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavour, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. White peach, toasted hazelnut, jasmine and nougatine teem long. The oak, nestled beautifully, serves as a framing backdrop rather than the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavours and immense class. 96 Points.
Huone Hooke, The Real Review, March 2023
Light-mid straw-yellow hue; aromas of creamy yeast lees, cashew nut and traces of smoky reduction, well controlled. More wheaty as it aired. The wine is very delicate in the mouth, restrained, fresh and quite intense with bright acidity and great harmony. Lots of charm. Not a big-framed or powerful chardonnay but has lovely balance and drinkability. (Bernard 95 & 76 clones). 93 Points.
Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion, February 2023
Fermented wild in new and used 500L puncheons; maturated for 10 months with occasional stir. Among the country’s varietal exemplars. Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavour, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. White peach, toasted hazelnut, jasmine and nougatine teem long. The oak, nestled beautifully, serves as a framing backdrop rather the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavours and immense class. 96 Points.
Ned Goodwin, Super Tuscans Steal the Show, and eighing Burgundy 2021: Weekly Tasting Report, July 2023
Fermented wild in new and used 500L puncheons; matured for 10 months with the occasional stir. Among the country's varietal exemplars. Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavor, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. Aromas of white peaches, toasted hazelnuts, jasmine and nougatine run long. The oak, beautifully embedded, serves as a framing backdrop rather than the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavor and considerable class. 96 Points.
Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Review, July 2023
Masterful. That’s the best way to describe nearly everything that comes out from the Shaw & Smith stable, from the surprise packet Riesling to Hills benchmark Shiraz. This Shaw + Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 is every bit the polished experience, too – a precise expression of modern Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with crystalline acidity and perfect banana cream stone fruit delicacy. It’s a wine to admire, with just this perfect acidity and fine lines. But there’s a voice in the back of my brain that finds it too perfect. It’s like that overt precision means it lacks a little x-factor. It’s too pure, and the less pure M3 might be a more interesting wine. Eh, it’s still high-quality, gold medal stuff, but a fascinating thought exercise on contemporary Chardonnay. Best drinking: now to plenty of years (probably up to ten, but I’d drink within eight). 94 Points.
Shanteh Wale, The Wine Pilot, May 2023
Whole bunch pressed, fermented in puncheons of which 30% was new. Full malolactic fermentation and 10 months in oak. The 2021 vintage has you leaning in a little closer to hear the deft tones of this incarnation. Greengage plums, yellow apple skin and a puff of Johnson’s and Johnson’s talcum powder.
There is sliced lemon blank, sliced okra and golden kiwi. The acumen of site and vintage is well displayed here with a real restraint shown to highlight the fine edges and detail in the mild vintage. Despite its balletic grace the power still drives down the middle palate like long legs in shadow, they continue to grow. This will age very well. A lovely drink that deserves a little bit of hush to really enjoy. Drink with chilled yabbies and the thinnest sheet of pork lardo resting on top. 96 Points.
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, May 2023
Sweet ripe fruit with bitterness and savouriness inlaid. Gorgeous wine. Grapefruit and peach, pear and peanut brittle, wild flings of fragrant herbs. The length, flow and harmony of this combine to sensational effect. Mineral, tonic and lemonade-like characters linger through the aftertaste. An absolute treat. 96 Points.
Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal, March 2023
Pale colour. Intense white peach, white apricot marzipan tonic water aromas with honey vanilla notes. Beautifully balanced wine with fresh stonefruit, lemon curd flavours, fine lacy textures, superb creamy complexity and underlying marzipan vanillin notes. Finishes long and minerally. A top-notch Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with amazing flow, clarity and persistency. Drinking beautifully now. Why wait? Drink now – 2028. 98 Points.
Halliday Wine Companion - 100 New Tasting Notes, March 2023
Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavour, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. White peach, toasted hazelnut, jasmine and nougatine teem long. The oak, nestled beautifully, serves as a framing backdrop rather than the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavours and immense class. 96 Points.
Huone Hooke, The Real Review, March 2023
Light-mid straw-yellow hue; aromas of creamy yeast lees, cashew nut and traces of smoky reduction, well controlled. More wheaty as it aired. The wine is very delicate in the mouth, restrained, fresh and quite intense with bright acidity and great harmony. Lots of charm. Not a big-framed or powerful chardonnay but has lovely balance and drinkability. (Bernard 95 & 76 clones). 93 Points.
Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion, February 2023
Fermented wild in new and used 500L puncheons; maturated for 10 months with occasional stir. Among the country’s varietal exemplars. Transparent and tensile with an additional nuance of flavour, vibrato and mineral cohesion etched into the firmament of complexity each year. White peach, toasted hazelnut, jasmine and nougatine teem long. The oak, nestled beautifully, serves as a framing backdrop rather the centrepiece. A wine of precision, intense flavours and immense class. 96 Points.
