Woop Woop Chardonnay 2007

I am a great lover of Ben Riggs wines - the only wines of his that I haven't liked are the ones he has created for the US market - they must have a different palate to me over there :)

While in South Australia last year we wandered into Penny's Hill winery - simply because we were informed that this was Ben Riggs central. He is their winemaker - but also some of his other creations are sold here. What a wonderful winery. We were so taken with the place we ended up having lunch (their 5 course tasting menu) at their fantastic restaurant and could barely move when we had finished. We had to wander around the property and looked at the sheep to (a) sober up, and (b) walk off the meal.

But I digress, Woop Woop Chardonnay is a very drinkable wine - we actually bought two cases as was a very nice wine and the price was right. It is very hard to find a chardonnay under $20 that is a good 'every day' drink. Yes we have tasted top of the range chardonnay's. But you can't drink them everyday - well at least not on our salary. It is fresh and crisp - with not too much acid. it is an oaked wine - but is a very gentle taste - you don't have to pick the splinters out of this one. A nice Sunday afternoon sipper :)

Fox Creek Wines- Shadow's Run Unwooded Chardonnay -2007

Haven't blogged my wines for a wine - which doesn't mean I haven't been drinking really fine wines - just that I forget.

Shadow's Run is an unwooded Chardonnay and is a very nice wine. A pale gold in the glass, crystal clear with a green tinge - it tastes as good as it smells. I smelt peach, pear with maybe a hint of rock melon. Slightly citrusy on tongue - but not a lot of acid. Is very soft to drink and went perfectly with our goats cheese and biccies. A lovely way to relax after work - pool, wine and cheese.

Fox Creek Wines are in the Mclaren Vale wine region in South Australia, and we spent a very pleasant week there in November last year (2008). Sadly when we got to Fox Creek - we didn't get to meet Shadow who had passed away shortly before our arrival. The winery is very pretty - and we were happy to see we actually cross 'Fox Creek' on the way to the winery itself. Lovely gardens, with statues of strange birds and animals scattered here and there. We joined their club there and then and have just had our first delivery.

Hamelin Bay - Rampant White - 2006

Another Western Australian winery from Margaret River. Picturesque drive into the tasting rooms - then a beautiful vista down into a valley over part of their vinyards.

Once again another winery that has staff that makes you feel welcome - and do not talk down to or at you.

This white blend has 3 whites in it - Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay - and they all combine to make a very yummy sit in the pool after work on a hot day drink. James Halliday has given this 90 points - and though I don't always agree with him - in this instance I do. As you have gathered by now I don't really do nose or taste - but this definitely had a kiwi fruit nose :) is light in the mouth - but stayed there for a while. I drank it by itself.

Here is a link to the winery - be sure to put it on your must visit list