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NOTES
The Toolangi philosophy is to grow and source the very best grapes from the Yarra Valley and put them in the hands of the very best winemaker for the particular varietal. Our winemakers include Rick Kinzbrunner (Giaconda), Matt Harrop (Shadowfax) and Tom Carson (Yering Station).
The wines are principally made from estate grown fruit supplemented when needed with high quality fruit sourced from the Yarra Valley. Our viticulturalist, whilst maintaining our estate owned vineyards, is additionally responsible for the management of vineyards for outsourced fruit.
Toolangi produces wines with distinctive personalities, each wine showing a strong sense of place. Grapes from exceptional sites together with the experienced hand of the outstanding winemakers, subtly coming into play with each wine. The critical acclaim from some of the country's foremost wine writers confirms our approach.
2006 TOOLANGI CHARDONNAY
2006 was an extremely hot and compacted year in the Yarra Valley, with vintage coming several weeks earlier than usual. Attention to detail and the appropriate canopy manipulations were done, along with handpicking to maximize fruit quality across all varieties.
Hail in November and a 46 degree day on New Years Eve were notable natural events. The heat required an irrigation regime to maintain the vine health, canopy manipulation at the right times brought the fruit quality back to high standards with even ripeness and tannins a feature on all varieties. The Chardonnay was again a standout, with Pinot Noir and Shiraz also having great potential. Overall another good, albeit challenging vintage.
This Chardonnay is made from fruit sourced from a Yarra Valley vineyard in Coldstream managed by our viticulturalist. To maximize the quality of the fruit, during verasion the vines were crop thinned by approximately 25% to adjust the cropping level to 2.5 tonnes per acre. This wine was made at Yering Station from hand picked fruit and was barrel fermented with wild and inoculated yeasts. French oak barriques were used to age this wine for eleven months.
TASTING NOTES
Terrific value, Toolangi's bottom-end Yarra Valley chardonnay betters more expensive wines. The quietly complex nose has melon and lightly buttery aromas with hints of citrus, slate and nuts. In the mouth it's smooth and silky. Flavour is sustained and it finishes clean. (13.5% alcohol; screwcap)
Ageing? Drink over three years.
Food ideas: Pan-fried fish; sugar-cured salmon.
4 out of 5 stars
$$$ - A wine with a price tag which makes it a steal.
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, 8 April 2008
This is bang on the money when it comes to delivering a fairly priced Chardonnay that drinks like a champion. It's not a lot of things - over-made, heavy, cheesy, oaky, hot or expensive. It's just right and absolutely delicious. Clean and bright with a mix of melon, nectarine, citrus, grilled nuts, a bit of flint and some spicy dusty oak. On the palate medium weight with sweet juicy nectarine and citrus fruit and a little cream and spice. It's direct and fresh with balanced acidity and a clean long spicy finish. Perfectly made and great to drink. Gary Walsh, Winorama, 15 April 2008
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