Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay – Complex and Balanced

Chardonnay is one of those wines for which you have seemingly endless options.  It’s grown in pretty much every major wine region of the world and the store shelves are lined with brand after brand.

With so many options it should be no surprise that there’s also a wide range of quality and styles.  And while a lot of wine lovers claim to dislike chardonnay, I would argue that most of them just dislike certain styles of chardonnay.  The biggest complaint I hear from others (and I share this viewpoint) is too much oak.  For a while, winemakers got into a habit of using lots of oak on their chardonnay — so much that it could end up tasting like a wet board.

I’m not opposed to oak.  I am opposed to oak abuse.  It has to be done with balance.  And balance is what I found in this wine from Hardys.

The aromas on this chardonnay are complex and interesting, with fragrances like pear, pumpkin seeds, lemon and wet stones.  It’s tasty too, offering lemon, melon, pear and apple flavors with moderate intensity.  The acidity is sufficient and the finish is fairly long. Unlike much chardonnay, this one isn’t all beaten up by oak.  It’s tasty.

Wine: Hardys Nottage Hill
Variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $13.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Find Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay with Snooth