1996 Hardys Eileen Hardy Chardonnay

The Hardys "Eileen Hardy" wines are the best of any particular style that Hardys produce in any particular year. The 1996 Eileen Hardy Chardonnay is an essay in complexity, only rivaled by the Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. So how does one go about obtaining maximum complexity? Croser's secret - use fruit from different sites, Leeuwins, use a matrix of different French oak casks of varying degrees of toastiness. Hardys - combine the two and create a balancing act between, fruit, barrel ferment techniques and oak quality. The result - 4 trophies and 2 gold. In many ways the approach of sourcing fruit from different vineyard sites has its basis in Champagne. Bright straw colour. The nose displays very complex aromas of butterscotch, biscuits cashews, toasty oak, with grapefruit and peach in the background. The palate displays outstanding depth and concentration of flavour - totally mouth filling to the point of becoming over powering - the sort of experience one gets from great Pinot. The component parts are in total harmony - ripe melon and fig fruits are counter pointed by a hint of grapefruit. Toasty oak is enhanced by creamy malolactic texture, with biscuit and nutty/yeast flavours all moving around the palate. Perfect balance with long butterscotch yeast lees aftertaste. Cellar 5 - 8 years. A great bottle of white wine!! Awarded 4 trophies & 2 Gold medals to date.