WTN: 1999 Dalrymple Chardonnay Pipers Brook, Tasmania

Well, including Jenise's notes from the old WLDG we now have notes going back to 2002 on this wine. I've finally moved and the shelving for my wine closet is coming in a week or two, so I'm starting to look more seriously at my inventory again. This is the last bottle of this little gem that Jenise introduced me to. I had originally bought 6.

Whodathunk an 8 year old Aussie chardonnay could be so wonderful? But this really isn't your ordinary chardonnay. It still has that piercing acidity. There is definitely oak that sort of caresses the citrus, lemony melon flavors. It is in no way obtrusive. Still has that gorgeous minerally finish as well. What a long strange trip it's been.

[Jenise]

Howard, I was afraid you might have left that one too long. About two years ago, it was absolutely dazzling, and drank not like a chardonnay but like a 7-10 year old grand cru chablis. That's what's so amazing about the wine, the producer set out to make--and did--a chablis style down under. We're drinking the 2000's now, which I don't think had the acid that the 99 did nor will it have the brilliance, but it's darned good anyway.

Would've been fun to try it at 10 years. Oh well.