Out Of The Bottle

With David Ellis

Chardonnay & Bella Bianco

It can get pretty chilly out in the Orange region of Central Western NSW, but Peter Logan at local company Logan Wines reckons that’s what makes it the hottest cold-climate region in Australia.

And he says it’s because of those chilly conditions that his Chardonnay is the best wine he makes. “Chardonnay coupled with cold climate viticulture is the pinnacle of winemaking if it’s done right,” he says. “I get so excited about how great these two elements are when they’re combined.”

Yet Peter has to admit to having to encourage a lot of visitors to his cellar door to even taste his latest 2009 Chardonnay, as so many have turned off the variety. “But once they try it, it walks out the door. And yet there’s no big secret to it: I simply allow Chardonnay’s lovely natural beauty to shine through, rather than exaggerating it with too much oak of malolactic fermentation.”

The result with the 2009 is a rewarding drop with nice citrus tones and fine minerality, and at $22 one to encourage the Anything-But-Chardonnay crowd back into the fold over pan-fried Atlantic salmon and buttery potato mash.

One For Lunch

Yellowglen has added a sweet white Bella Bianco bubbly to its popular Vintage range.

Winemaker Charles “Chilly” Hargrave opted for fruit from premium vineyards in South Eastern Australia, crafting his Bella Bianco into a refreshing bubbly with a luscious palate, fresh crisp acidity, and citrus flavours coupled with a rich almost Turkish Delight-like finish.

At $19.99 it’s a good-value party room wine for that next celebration – or for simply pulling out when the girls get together for a bit of an afternoon natter.

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