Lethbridge Chardonnay 2008

I'm a big fan of Lethbridge...as people have problem seen from previous posts.  They just do a great job making a wine that isn't typical of Australia (not in my opinion) and I appreciate dedication to craft and the idealism that goes into their style of wine..

Lethbridge Estate Chardonnay 2008.
A bit of reduction...actually, I think they really sulfured the heck out of this..which is good in a way because that is currently the trend..that burnt match stick is something people are looking for in wine...I'm not sure I agree that it is a great thing although it doesn't bother me that much.  I DO think they're doing it to put off all of the Premox going around in Burgundy so that "style" or "characteristic" of the wine has rubbed off on a few others.

Good fruit, slightly muted, peaches, pear...some burnt match stick or a lot of it I should say...I don't think the alcohol is high but I do get a slight bit of heat which to me is accentuated by the sulfur.  Acidity is great, as it always is from them...Maybe a tad bit heavy on the oak although I too think the sulfur accentuates that.  Overall, I do think the wine had pretty good balance with the acidity + new oak + malo...It isn't lean, it isn't fat...it has the characteristics of a good chardonnay and I think the style is really more old world than new.

One thing I did think was weird though..over 3 days, this thing has barely budged at all..relatively tight compared to other Lethbridge Chardonnays I've had...and this one isn't showing any signs of oxidation...which again lends itself to my sulfur theory.....I also don't think this has evolved too much under screw cap....there is SOME development but less than expected....So on the plus side, I think this wine will last 10+ years..on the downside...it is at a point where it will last 10+ more years...

Will I try to get more Lethbridge Chardonnay?  Without a doubt....Do I think anyone that wants a more old world style new world Chardonnay should try these?  Without a doubt...

Torbreck Les Amis

Most Torbreck stuff is pretty biggish...they do a good job though with the fruit being pure and the wine being quite clean...

They make a Grenache called Les Amis, which, when young, is quite biggish...as Grenache often is when young...I've never really had an aged version of this and really wasn't sure what to expect but..

Torbreck Les Amis 2003.

100% Grenache, when young these are quite big fruited...nearly gloppy fruited...They remind me of very big CDPs but without any funk....But this has aged quite nicely.  As Grenache can often do, it has softened quite nicely and the texture has become far lighter than the alcohol or original fruit would suggest.  Still carries very pure fruit but the darker fruits have become a bit redder and the overall mouthfeel just feels very much improved over younger versions of this...

These are still rather expensive on release (over 100 AUD) which makes it a bit questionable given the number of other wines you can get out there for that...but as far as Grenache in Australia, this has shown it can age and age for quite awhile....There are a few other Grenaches coming out in Australia that are slightly more interesting and seeing how this will impact the price of this should also prove to be interesting...but as far as wines that surprised me and have shown they're more than what they seem...this did that..