Editors notes
Adrian Rodda's time at Oakridge under the esteemed David Bicknell shaped much of his skill set when crafting Chardonnay. And it certainly shows in his release of this wine from the renowned Willowlake vineyard.
This is a gorgeous Upper Yarra Chardonnay, cool, refined and elegant with fruit front and centre. The one-third new oak adding pitch-perfect framing for this release. Adrian has produced an excellent Chardonnay this year.
This is a wine that Yarra Chardonnay fans can take to the bank.
Details
-
Wine Type
-
Vintage
-
Variety
-
Brand
-
Location
-
Cellaring
-
Closure
-
Alcohol Percentage
-
Bottle Size
-
Oak Type
Tasting Profile
-
Light (Light)Full (Full)
-
Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
-
Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
-
Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
-
Aroma
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Pepper
-
Palate
- Blackberry
- Fruit Cake
- Tobacco
Food Pairings
-
Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
-
James Halliday's Wine Companion
96"A cracking chardonnay that's pure class. Tight and linear with intense flavours of citrus and white stone fruit, ginger flower and moreish sulphides. Complex, deep with a very long finish. Wow."
-
Huon Hooke
95"The bouquet is spicy and meaty, smoked charcuterie-like, with definite but not overdone sulfide notes, the palate refined and intense, crisp and lively, with a rich, concentrated middle and lasting finish. The acidity is vibrant but not strident. A very smart chardonnay."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
There are no other vintages found.
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
Australia
Australia's wine industry is a thriving part of the country's economy, contributing significantly to employment, production, export, and tourism. In fact, the industry is the fourth-largest wine exporter in the world, shipping out 760 million liters of wine to countries including France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. One of the key factors contributing to Australia's success as a "New World" wine producer is the formal export and marketing of its wines through Wine Australia.
Australia's wine regions are scattered across the south and southeast, with almost every state boasting its own vineyards. Victoria, for example, is home to an impressive 21 wine regions. Some of the most famous wine regions in Australia include Margaret River, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, and local regions to New South Wales such as Cowra, Southern Highlands, and Mudgee.
Australian winemakers are known for producing a diverse range of grape varieties, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir being among the most popular. They tend to focus on producing wines that are ripe, fruit-forward, and easy to drink, using modern winemaking techniques and equipment such as stainless steel tanks and temperature-controlled fermentation.
With its bold, fruit-driven flavors and reputation for quality and diversity, Australian wine has become a popular choice for wine lovers around the world. And with such a broad range of wine regions and grape varieties, there's something for every palate to enjoy.
Victoria
The wine region of Victoria has the highest number of grapevines than any other state in Australia. It is home to over 600 wineries and well-known regions such as Yarra Valley, Heathcote, and Rutherglen. Victoria is situated in the southeastern corner of Australia where due to the location, the climate has a cool maritime influence and is known for its outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with producing Australia’s most famed dessert Muscat and Topaque wines.
There are a number of different terroir levels throughout the wine region of Victoria which leads to the production of different ranges of wines. In the southern region of Victoria, the vines are regulated by the cool winds of the Bass Strait. Central Victoria consists of mostly flat terrain that tends to be drier and warmer than the rest of Victoria, which results in more fruit concentrated wines. It may be surprising to note that Victoria is the third most productive wine region in Australia, seeing as it does not have as many areas suitable for viticulture, which has resulted in the cellar door culture of Victoria being concentrated with smaller, but more personal boutique wineries.
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is a wine region known for producing outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region has become a leading wine tourism destination, popular for weekend trips as it is located only an hour’s drive northeast of Melbourne.
The cool climate region has some of the oldest soils in the world, and produces terrific Chardonnays in the leaner, acid-driven style. Long gone are the days of excessively oaked and oily Chardonnays. Superb Pinot Noir is cultivated with tremendous results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and even Sparkling wines of premium quality are also worth seeking out.
Yarra Valley is the oldest wine region in Victoria with the first vines planted in 1838 at Yering Station. Reg Egan founded the iconic Wantirna Estate in 1963, followed by Dr Bailey Carrodus in 1969 who founded equally lauded Yarra Yering in the foot of the Warramate Hills. Nowadays a fleet of new world wine makers and growers are making sure Yarra Valley stays at the forefront of Victorian wine production. Key wineries to look out for are Mayer, William Downie and Macforbes.
The region in 2009 suffered in the Black Saturday fires, with an estimated 25% of all production was impacted.
About the brand A Rodda Wines
Adrian Rodda began making wine in 1998 with David Bicknell at Oakridge, mastering the art of Chardonnay along the way. These days, however, you’ll find him trudging around the old Smiths Vineyard in Beechworth which was first planted in the mid-1970s and, coincidentally, is home to some excellent Chardonnay vines which Adrian has since made very good use of.
In 2015 he was named the Young Gun of Wine for his A. Rodda Wines label, which has been establishing a name for itself thanks to consistently outstanding Chardonnay, along with Tempranillo and a Cabernet-based Cuvee de Chez. Adrian’s approach to winemaking is all about letting the fruit speak for itself, with classic wines the result.
You May Also Like
Customer Reviews
Write Your Own Review