See Saw Fulcra Chardonnay 2017

Fulcra is Jarretts Wines’ “ultra-premium” range produced in exceptional years. Clearly, the Jarretts are confident about the ageing ability of their Fulcra Chardonnays. This six-year-old is just hitting its stride with a lovely, fine-edged richness on display. Barrel fermentation, wild yeast, partial malolactic fermentation and ageing in new (20%) and seasoned French oak imparts layers of succulent, complex flavours. Citrus, melon, grapefruit, stone fruits intermix with spice, baked bread and almond nutty characters in real harmony. Brisk acidity melds in nicely, succinctly, working with the winemaking – lees, barrel and malolactic characters – and bringing a nougat, leesy texture. Excellent depth of flavour with a touch of nuttiness to close. This Fulcra certainly shows the style and class of Orange Chardonnay.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic