Credaro Five Tales Chardonnay 2020

The Australian Chardonnay scene is quite dynamic these days. “Buttery oaked” examples are scarce and buyers who appreciate this less fashionable style struggle to find them. Nowadays Chardonnays are more citric, lighter, juicier, less alcoholic and the oak input is wisely managed. Credaro “Five Tales” Chardonnay is a clear example of the evolution of the variety and shows terrific contemporary appeal.

This tidy chardonnay called for a light dish to accompany it. I selected a flavoursome salad of prawns with green apple and fennel. There is an unexpected flavour explosion occurring in this recipe; specifically the combination of thinly sliced fennel, sugar snap peas and buttermilk sparked my imagination to pair with this wine. The mix of creamy and crunchy textures are always something I look for when going for a lighter meal. A topping of crushed walnuts was the perfect link between the wine and the dish. 

Poured in a wide glass, the wine had restrained aromas of honeydew melon and lemon with a gentle white lilies touch. The pastry notes on the palate denoted the time on lees and they matched the mustard and spring onion components in the buttermilk sauce superbly, creating a wonderful complex combination. As it washed down, the wine revealed finely textured grapefruit flavours joined by soft stone fruit and a hint of vanilla. Overall the food matching accentuates the smooth finish, resulting in a silky long lasting experience.  

This medium bodied wine is made for early drinking yet the best of the wine will be 1 to 2 years from now, as it needs time to integrate the lees influenced character with the core of fruit. There is plenty to discover in the multi-layered palate. It goes to show that Credaro Wines have great fruit resources and a few tricks up their sleeve.