Tasmanian Chardonnay FTW

 

After an eye-opening tasting of the 2019 Dr Edge chardonnay releases (North, East and South) I was keen to buy a bottle of my favourite and try it out over a longer period than just one hour.  I picked up a bottle from differentdrop.com for $55 and a week later it was delivered to my house.  I opened it alongside a 2018 Tolpuddle chardonnay for context (I am very familiar/comfortable with that wine and I do like yardsticks).

 

2019 Dr Edge North Chardonnay, Tasmania

This is a minerally, racy, acid driven wine with succulent white fruit that while generous is restrained and tight.  In fact – everything about this wine is tight, but that is actually central to the appeal.  As it flows over the palate this gains speed and salt, rounding out into a lingering, racy, spicy number that has the glass moving back towards my mouth before it’s even been put down.  I love this.  And I will be buying more.  Not to age, although I am sure it will perform well over time, but to drink, because it is delicious and exciting.

RRP $55

95+/100

2018 Tolpuddle Chardonnay, Tasmania

Richer, fuller and more relaxed than the Dr Edge wine, this will please the purists and the traditionalists with its classic representation of chardonnay fruit.  It is all class and polish, the white peach, nectarine and red apple backed by saffron, sea salt, crushed pepper and toasted cashew.  I love this wine now but from experience with the Tolpuddles once they gain a few years, I think it should be stashed away for a couple (ok 3+) of years to encourage it to bloom into the wine I know that it will become. Incredibly fine and sophisticated now, however.

RRP $85

96+/100