DASH FARM CHARDONNAY

Erin Larkin's note 'in a word: delicious' really does get to the point. Quite a deep colour, restrained nose, but with a sensation of fullness, palate also restrained, but not mean, lush even, yet still fine and fresh, relaxed in itself, all just the essence of 'gourmand' with delightful balance, and all to easy to swallowL&S (Jul 2023)

2021 Joshua Cooper Dash Farms Mount Alexander Chardonnay shows that this Mount Alexander site casts the same spell on white grapes as on the reds. This is both a bitter and a sherbety wine in the same breath. It is clean and ripe, gossamer-smooth and then raw and hard all of a sudden. While it is easy to glug and much more refined than it appears on the surface, there is attitude and edge everywhere you turn. These marvellous discoveries continue to elaborate on the never-ending notion that Australia is so massive that we have barely scratched the surface regarding wonderful and different spots to plant vines.Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Oct 2023)

In a word: delicious. This 2021 Dash Farms Vineyard Chardonnay is detailed and concentrated, with layers of flavor that settle on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks. Brine, stewed apple, buttered toast, salted nuts, clove bud and wafts of licorice rise out of the glass. In the mouth, the acidity is juicy and paves the way for flavor to flood across the tongue. For all of its rambunctious outlay of personality, it manages to keep a lid on it all (sealed under Diam and wax; I am not muddling metaphors) via the phenolics, which are poised and fine. It's super smart and, like Cooper's other wines, distinct. As an afterthought, the flow of flavor is interesting: it is glassy and soft, but the acidity punctuates it. Like the straight path of light, the acidity spears the fruit and creates space in the wine. Drinking range: 2022 - 2032 Rating: 94 Erin Larkin, www.RobertParker.com (Oct 2022)