Most people who know me are familiar with the fact I don’t mind a chat. It becomes worse when it involves talking about wine. Ratchet it up again if it involves talking to a winemaker or winery owner. I think, secretly, my wife feels sorry for anyone who gets stuck in a conversation with me that involves anything about wine.
Anyway, recently I attended a wine and food event at which there were a number of wine exhibitors. When I saw Chalk Hill, I knew who they were due to hearing of them from a McLaren Vale wine producer, however I had never tasted their wines so, over I went. After tasting their three white wines and the Rosé, I became very interested in the Chalk Hill wines. In saying that, all four of these wines are worth speaking about. I have always said I will never pick a favourite and I intend sticking to that mantra because they are all wines that I would be happy to drink and share.
Region: Various, South Australia Price: $30 each (bargain buying) Source: Wines kindly provided by Chalk Hill Wines
2023 Vermentino
Refreshingly flavoursome, crisp and dry. Those five words just about sum up this wine but wait, there’s more. A vibrancy on the palate gives this wine a light feel, yet it is closer to medium bodied once you finally taste it after taking in the inviting citrusy, saline like aromas. A fresh, citrusy palate of apple and grapefruit like characters are balanced by a deft touch of texture as it finishes nice and dry. This has ‘versatile food wine’ written all over it.
2024 Fiano
How many people do you know who, having visited a bottle-shop on the way to your home, have turned up with a Fiano? I know the answer and it is such a shame, especially after you taste examples such as this one. For such a young wine, it is drinkable already providing the vibrancy of citrus fruits with an added fleshy-like feel of stone-fruit characters, all sitting so nicely on the palate. If you’ve never tried Fiano, I strongly suggest you start here.
2022 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
How good is Australian Chardonnay? I had a bit of a think about it and, I can not remember the last time I had a not-so-good Australian Chardonnay. It has lovely aromatics that give a good introduction to what to expect when tasting it. Peach and pear fruits combine nicely with delicate acidity and a creamy cashew nut feel on the palate as it finishes dry with a pretty good length. This Chardonnay is a very good example of everything you want at a very good price. Jump on it!
2023 Rosé
Whoever brought Rosé back into the drinking habits of Australians should have been nominated for a King’s Birthday honour. The shelves of Rosés in bottle-shops now are impressive and this release supports that nomination. Very fragrant (a little Gewürztraminer like I thought) on the nose with red berries showing too. The palate is flavourful thanks to cherries and strawberries with a dab of acidity on the nice dry finish. Here it is folks, your poolside, or picnic, or afternoon on the verandah, wine.
Words from a Wine Glass 