I’ve been delving into wine seriously now for, gee, thirty years I reckon. In saying that, I have one question; Colmar Estate, where have you been all my wine life?! Another hidden gem in the Orange region of New South Wales and, if you can’t make it to the cellar door, make sure you get your hands on their wines.
Speaking of the cellar door, listening to an interview with owner, Bill Shrapnell, it sounds like there is a spectacular view from the tasting area allowing the cellar door crew to point to the vines that went into a particular wine a punter is trying. I am now regretting not calling in during our whirlwind visit earlier this month.
My immediate thoughts. What a couple of ripper Chardonnays these are! There you go. Right off the bat. No holding back. Putting it out there.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed these two excellent examples from the Orange Region of New South Wales. We could not help but aromatically investigate and palate ponder them constantly while it belted down with rain in our small town on the east coast of Tasmania.
Region: Orange Region, NSW Source: Samples thanks kindly to Colmar Estate and Define Wine
2021 Block 2 Chardonnay ($50)
This is delightful from the first pour to the bottle emptying last pour. There is plenty of flavour from the stone fruit characters, it’s smooth and textural providing a lovely mouthfeel, and acidity plays a gentle yet excellent supporting role on the considerable length this wine has. While the oak does show its hand, everything is nicely in balance resulting in a wine that is very much approachable already.
2021 Reserve Chardonnay ($60)
Where do I start with this Chardonnay? Well, I could have taken in the aromas for days. Okay, so a slight exaggeration but it is so beautiful on the nose. I just love how it feels on the palate too, so appealing in an effortless way. While it is rich and offers full flavoured palate presence, it maintains elegance right up until it leaves your palate, and it is certainly in no hurry to do that. This is without doubt a lovely Chardonnay.
Words from a Wine Glass 