Amaroo 2002 Chardonnay

Amaroo 2002 Chardonnay
Southeastern Australia
 

Some say that Australia is too hot for growing good, balanced Chardonnays, but Amaroo is among the producers proving them wrong. By buying grapes from several locations around Southeastern Australia and fermenting them at cool temperatures Amaroo has been able to create a big, fruity wine that remains focused and flavorful. They have adapted traditional French techniques like oak aging and resting the wine on its lees (yeast) to suit the exuberant fruit flavors that the Australian climate gives their grapes.

Rich fruit aromas of ripe pears, mango and pineapple roll out of the glass, framed by touches of lemon and vanilla. The Amaroo is creamy, round, and full in the mouth; the finish is clean and smooth, a fading vanilla flavor rather than an acidic twang.