2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay

Cellarmasters provided a bottle of the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay to review.  This is an extremely well-awarded Chardonnay as have been the previous two vintages.  The 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay is a single vineyard Tasmanian Chardonnay with a bold taste. The 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay surprised me in being far fruitier than I was expecting. Its aroma is of lemon and orange peel. The taste is very fruity and alive, with the citrus almost popping off your tongue. I also taste pineapple and grapefruit along with lemon and lime. It is crisp and clean on the tongue and the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay has a nice, moderately long finish.

Crater ChardonnayWith the strong citrus flavors, you could easily mistake this wine for a Sauvignon Blanc, except the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay is richer in texture and has a better mouthfeel. Yet, for my taste, the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay is too crisp and fruity for a Chardonnay, but then, I drink most of my Chardonnays with some age on them and either sourced from Montrachet, or in Australia from Margaret River or the Hunter Valley.  This is the first Chardonnay I have ever had from Tasmania. The 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay is a lovely drop and immediately drinkable, but different from what I was expecting.  Now that it has warmed up a couple of degrees, I taste watermelon and papaya.  If you like an abundance of citrus and exotic fruits, you will love the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay.

I must apologize to Cellarmasters, as the 2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay is out of stock, similar to the 2011 Krondorf Growers Barossa Shiraz that I reviewed earlier. I need to do my reviews as soon as receiving the wines.  (Unfortunately, I was sick and waited until my palate was better.)  But like the 2011 Krondorf Growers Barossa Shiraz which is out of stock, if you want another good Chardonnay, check out Cellarmasters fine selection of Chardonnays to find a suitable replacement.  They do carry the 2012 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay which should be just as good.

Steve Shipley, author Wine Sense, available now!
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