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News - Merlot Musings

01 April 2005

Springhill 2002 Unwooded Chardonnay and Decanter: Australian Chardonnay tasting

In Decanter Magazine, April 2005, our 2002 vintage of Springhill Unwooded Chardonnay was given a Three Star Rating ("Recommended Wines" are the Three Star level).

While this might seem nothing to get excited about, we certainly are! Three Stars in Decanter is worth Five Stars elsewhere!

How do we know? Well, have a look at the following list and you will see some very notable competitors in the same rating.

Even more interesting are some of the Two Star ratings ("Fair Only" status).

Three Star

  • IRVINE UNWOODED 2002 - 14.75 Points
  • Omrah Unwooded 2004 - 14.75 Points
  • Henschke Lenswood 2002 - 14.75 Points
  • Henschke Cranes 2001 - 14.75 Points
  • Shaw & Smith Adelaide Hills 2003 - 14.75 Points
  • Stonier Mornington 2003 - 14.75 Points
  • Wolf Blass Adelaide Hills 2003 - 15.0 Points
  • Rosemount Show Reserve Hunter 2002 - 15.0 Points
  • D'Arenberg Adelaide Hills 2003 - 15.0 Points
  • Grosset Piccadilly 2003 - 15.0 Points
  • Cullen Margaret River 2002 - 15.5 Points
  • Penfolds Reserve Bin OOA Adelaide Hills 2000 - 15.5 Points
Two Star

  • Plantagenet 2004 - 14.33 Points
  • Chapel Hill Unwooded 2004 - 14.33 Points
  • Nepenthe Unwooded Adelaide Hills 2004 - 14.25 Points
  • Heggies Eden Valley 2003 - 14.00 Points
  • Lenswood Vineyards 2001 - 14.00 Points
  • Gemtree McLaren Vale 2004 - 13.66 Points
  • Hungerford Hill NSW 2003 - 13.66 Points
  • Cumulus Wines Climbing Orange 2004 - 13.5 Points
  • Geoff Merrill Coonawarra/McLaren Vale 2002 - 13.33 Points
  • Hollick Unoaked Limestone Coast 2003 - 13.0 Points
  • Rosemont Hill of Gold Mudgee 2001 - 13.0 Points
So you see Springhill (Eden Crest) Chardonnay can hold its own amongst all comers.

The description shows that the tasters do not see the bottles prior to tasting in that there is a reference to "nicely integrated oak", when Springhill is unwooded! I guess this comes from there being no oak obvious and from the extended time on lees, giving a complexity somewhat like old oak barrel ageing on lees.

"Gently spicy, attractive, ripe peach and pear fruit. Hint of minerality. Dry, crisp acidity with creamy texture. Nicely integrated oak, good length. Up to 2 years." Decanter, April 2005

Pricing

Eight Pounds Fifty (UK) retail (A$21.50) is a pretty hefty price compared to our Australian retail price of around $15-$16, so this shows value in the domestic market.

Now you know why we are delighted with a Three Star Rating!

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