1998 Petaluma Tiers Chardonnay

Excellence is one of those qualities that can be difficult to define, and is too often an overstated and over used term, yet when one encounters true excellence it is instantly recognizable.Croser's vision was to create a Chardonnay of world class - a wine that could be comfortably compared with the greatest of the White Burgundies - he has long been an admirer of Bonneau du Matray's Corton Charlemagne and has compared Petaluma Chardonnay with this great wine. Whilst, the Petaluma Chardonnay is in the same ball park, it is fair to say it has not yet reached the finesse of Corton Charlemagne. The Petaluma Tiers brings Croser several steps closer to creating a great Chardonnay.Only a small parcel of wine is bottled separately from the Tiers vineyard (which of the 6 distinguished vineyards appears to produce the best fruit).

Brilliant, deep straw colour. A superb sophisticated wine - Complex, barrel ferment nose, but without being overt. Layers of aromas yet all the notes are in total harmony. Toasted oak, hazelnut, spice, yeast lees and cashew. A very refined sniff, with nuances of grapefruit coming at the very end and leading into a complex and persistent palate. The remarkable quality of this wine is the persistence of flavours both on the palate and aftertaste, which can be measured in minutes. Layers of almond, cashew, grapefruit, melon and fig are superbly integrated into a seamless, harmonious whole. A great international Chardonnay. Stocks are very limited. Cellar 4-5 years.

RATING: 98/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5