- Adelaide Hills, SA - $35-$49
- Screwcap
- 13.5%alc
After a trio of faultless wines from 2005 (94pts), 2006 (95pts) and 2007 (95pts), Shaw and Smith is now firmly entrenched as a front runner among Australia's chardonnay class. At $40 a bottle the M3 is around half the price of many of its direct competitors.
Funky and complex, Shaw and Smith's 2008 M3 presents a lively fragrance of nectarine, peach, cumquat, melon, spice and paw paw aromas, whose perfectly integrated cheesy, leesy notes and fresh nutty/vanilla/butter oak state something of the wild. Without doubt its compelling bouquet is character laden in an artful fashion. Long and shapely, its fluffy palate offers a wonderfully measured intensity of nutty, toasty, white stonefruit and citrus flavour, which is simultaneously fruity and savoury. Sensuously creamed grapefruit/limey acids coat the brimming palate, leaving a lasting impression of brightness and quirky complexity.
ü Absolutely dripping with character, this flawless chardonnay is a magnificent wine in every sense. Drink to 2014.
92 points
This sounds like a keeper. Wonder if I can find it in the States.
ReplyDeleteShaw and Smith do have distribution to the States, and all their chardonnays age extremely well into the medium term. I think the 08 might age better than any of their recent releases.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by!
Chris P
Looks like I'll find a bottle of this too Chris! Your call with the Bay of Fires was spot on by the way;)
ReplyDeleteThanks mate.
Jade
After having consumed 4 bottles since, I've updated the score (95-92)and changed the cellaring window (2018-2014), without altering the original tasting note.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Chris Plummer
If you have a bottle handy - your revised cellaring window is spot on. We had a bottle with dinner tonight and the 2008 is hitting its straps right now. Beautiful full mouth feel with a long finish.
ReplyDeleteTrent