Petaluma Chardonnay White Label 2025
- 93
- $29
- Drink by: 2026-2032
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Petaluma has gone through some fairly massive changes since the days when Brian Croser and his team ran the place and were basically the face of great Aussie Chardonnay. There’s a lot more competition these days, but Petaluma are certainly making a serious effort to climb the ladder back to the top. They do have a range of wines. This release comes from various vineyards throughout the Adelaide Hills. Fermentation and maturation are in a mix of French oak and stainless steel. Pale gold/green in colour, on the nose we have notes of peaches and apricots, along with hints of cashew and vanillin oak. A touch of spice is also evident. This is a juicy style of Chardy, offering good intensity and a seductive texture. There is bright acidity and very good length. The wine will surely be better if you can leave it for a couple of years and will then drink impressively for the following six to eight.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
