In Xanadu did Irishman...

In Xanadu did Irishman...

I reckon I could on and write a few lines of doggerel but in respect to the late John Lagan, I’ll put a halt to it now. Let’s get to the wine.

Xanadu, Margaret River, Chardonnay 2008, 14% abv, €20.00 Bubble Brothers.

Must say I like this wine and its story, a story that began with the arrival of Irish medical doctors, John and Eithne Lagan, in Australia. Some time later, in the late 1970s, they set up the Xanadu vineyard in the Margaret River area of Western Australia. You may read more, much more, of the Lagans and their children here.

The early years were tough but decades of success followed for the Lagans. Nowadays, Xanadu is owned by the Rathbone family who are very strong on environmental protection and sustainability in their wine-making. They make excellent wines here and this Chardonnay got 91 points from James Halliday. 

They also produce a “second” wine at Xanadu under the Next of Kin Label. Bubble Brothers  also sell this and, in the recent past, I have been very happy with their Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and the Cabernet Sauvignon. These are priced at about five or six euro less than the top label.

The Chardonnay has a great nose, bright and citrus-sy. In a flavoursome mouthful, the citrus leads the way with other exotic fruits figuring strongly in the mix. Close to creamy, it is really well balanced with a persistent fruity finish. All in all an excellent Chardonnay and yet another winner from a terrific wine area. Highly recommended.

Chardonnay winner from Curious Wines

Langmeil Eden Valley Chardonnay 2010 13%, Curious Wines €11.99, 4.5 stars

Not all plain sailing in South Australia (pic by Langmeil)

I liked this one from Curious Wines,  an excellent expression of this widely grown grape from a producer best known for its Shiraz. And it goes straight to my list of 2011 favourites.

Colour is a very pale straw and it has an inviting aromatic nose. With some of the mix spending a few months in French oak, this has a rounded user friendly mouthfeel. It is vibrant, fresh with a fruit tang and that is all carried into the decent finish.

Not too much more to say about it. Well worth the money as there is a 20 per cent discount on Australian wine for the month of August.

The Langmeil winery is based in the Barossa, adjacent to the Eden Valley, and here is some Technical Stuff from the vineyard:

2010 Eden Valley Chardonnay - Sourced from a small vineyard in the Eden Valley, this elegant wine is made from pristine, flavour ripe bunches, gently pressed and cool fermented. Most components remain un-oaked for freshness (70%) while some are finished in French oak (30%) for complexity as well as undergoing secondary malolactic fermentation to soften natural acidity. This wine exhibits fresh, full fruit flavours, fine structure and a dry finish.

EL COMANDANTE CHARDONNAY

EL COMANDANTE Chardonnay 2010, Argentina, 13.5%, Mannings Food Emporium, Bradley’s Off Licence and many other outlets. 

This 2010 Chardonnay picked up a bronze award at the International Wine Challenge, a distinction proudly worn on the front label. On the back, you will see the Mendoza winery is Irish owned, established by an army man, hence the name.

No oak and no complications. Just a lovely young Chardonnay, dry, fresh and fruity. Didn't need any comandante ordering me to get friendly with this young Argentinean.

Colour is pale with tints of green and the nose is moderately aromatic, with hints of gooseberry. In the mouth it is fresh and crisp, fruity (gooseberry and citrus traces) with a lively and lengthy finish.

Not a high priced wine but a good one and worthy of your consideration.

Naturally enough, the winery was delighted with the bronze medal and announced it as follows in June 2011:

At the recent London Wine Fair Irish owned winery El Comandante won awards as part of the International Wine Challenge. Wine Producer Tom Lynch is delighted to announce the both El Comandante's 2009 Malbec and 2010 Chardonnay won Bronze Medals. That it is the first time that the wine has entered into any international competition means that a Bronze Medal is quite an achievement, especially as this was only the second vintage from this winery.

There is a sad note here too as Michael Lynch, the founder, died shortly after the wine was first imported. You may see all the information here 

CHARD OF AGES

CHARD OF AGES

Chalk this down

Kimmeridgien Chardonnay Bourgogne 2007, 12%, Karwig Wines €15.85

Clean and bright in the unusual shaped bottle with green lime hints on the nose. It tastes fresh, clean and fruity, “younger” than the year suggests (I must pay more attention to age when buying!), with flavours of rounded citrus (that lime again), dry but kilometres away from jaw-locking!

Kimmeridgian refers to the soil type: alternate layers of dense chalk and softer clay encrusted with marine fossils. In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age or stage in the Late or Upper Jurassic epoch or series.

The wine is one of a series of three named after a period in the geologic history of the earth. Brocard also makes a Jurassique and a Portlandien (see photo).  If you want to go deeper, you can dig for yourself at www.brocard.fr.

And while you’re digging why not have a glass or two of the Kimmeridgian, a really well made Chardonnay from its home pays.