1. Tigress Bay of Fires NV Sparkling

Nice Apple, citrus, with touch of pear. Good acidity and a touch of strawberry in the background from the Pinot Noir.

This is a 75% Pinot Noir/25% Chardonnay blend from Tasmania, so the cool climate characteristics are most definitely here but not where near as sharp and piercing as champagne. This is most definitely a new world wine.

There was a touch of grapefruit on the finish.

Robertfranciswine - 89 Points

Price Bracket - €25 euro [approx]

Available from Cases Wine Warehouse

2. Jacobs Creek Chardonnay 2007

Peachy, melon characteristics on the nose. Jacobs Creek chardonnay is a multi region blend with the warmer areas bringing melon and tropical fruit flavours. The cooler areas are loaded with citrus.

On the palate, this wine was medium bodied, with lemon and grapefruit characteristics. Wine is soft and creamy and overall reasonably balanced.

Nice, crisp, and dry. Was tasted blind and was kind of surprised when it was unveiled. Better then I would have thought and much better then previous Jacobs Creek Chards.

Robertfranciswine -85 Points

Price Bracket - Definitely under €10, can be gotten for as little as €6.97 if you shop around. Good value at that price.

Available from: Widely Available

3. Yellowtail Chardonnay 2006

Canned pineapple and really ripe fruit on the nose. There was a touch of caramel, and sweetness as well.

This wine is flabby, and broader on the palate. Much more your traditional overoaked chardonnay. There was grapefruit, pineapple, and a slightly confected palate to this wine.

It had an oily mouthfeel and a tart finish. This wine was really not my cup of tea. Again this wine was tasted blind so I did not know that it was the hugely popular Yellowtail when tasting it. But this is just not a wine that I would buy or drink.

Robertfranciswine - 83 Points

Widely Available

Price Bracket- Under €10

4. De Bortoli Sero Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio 2006

Paler coloured wine, with a slight green tinge to the wine.

Melon, citrus, and grapefruit on the palate. Decent balance and acidity on the palate - with a slight nutty finish. Lighter styled wine - solid modern wine making.

Good aromatics to this wine, but it had no mid palate, and the finish totally disappears. Like me when Coronation street comes on the telly. Totally overpriced at this price bracket.

Robertfranciswine - 83 Points

Price Bracket - €15 to €20

Available from Selected Independents

5. Unoaked Chardonnay, Wakefield, 2007

Peachy melon characteristics on the nose.

With an interesting fresh, clean palate. This is a pretty good entry level wine, with some tropical fruits as well on the palate.

Solid effort, with a lovely zesty citrus finish.

Robertfranciswine - 86 Points

Widely Available

Price Bracket - €11 approx

6. Yalumba Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2006

Quite a busy nose to this wine, with some oak characteristic coming through as well.

Peachy, melon fruits to this wine, with creamy caramel and nuts on the palate. Lovely limey finish to the wine. Good acidity with some complexity.

Medium bodied wine. Overall a solid effort, more towards the oaky style of chardonnay.

Robertfranciswine- 86 Points

Available: Thomas Woodberrys Galway

Price Bracket- €15.99 [approx]

7. Stonier Chardonnay 2005

Coming from up and coming/trendy region of Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Bigger richer style, with some floral tropical fruit, citrus, nutty flavours. Buttery oak finish, with a touch of fig and good acidity.

I quite liked this chardonnay, a bigger style but not to big.

Robertfranciswine - 88 Points

Price Bracket: €18.99 Approx

Available from Selected Independents

8.Petaluma Chardonnay 2004

Warmer Climate fruit to this wine - citrus, buttery oak, with peaches and almond.

Nicely balanced palate, much oakier on finish with riper fruit.. Slightly menthol/air freshener characteristics on the finish.

Much more traditional oz richer style of chardonnay. 100% new French oak. Kind of pricey, but classy at the same time.

Liked this wine, big fan of Brian Croizer :)

Robertfranciswine - 88 Points

Price Bracket - €24

Available from Selected Independents

9.Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2004

Oxidised - Gutted !

Were supposed to be tasting a much more recent vintage then this

What is deal with the 03 of this still being sold - surely that has had its day !!

10.Yerring Station Reserve Chardonnay 2005

This was quite burgundian styled on the nose - refined and classy with lovely soft, creamy oak.

Golden coloured, with peachy, citrus, melon flavours. Good finish to this wine. Not your typical Aussie chardonnay with very good fruit, balance, and finish.

Overall I really liked this wine, and while this wine isn't available in Ireland the entry level Yerring Station Chardonnay is. That is a wine that you should certainly check out !!

Robertfranciswine - 89 Points

Price Bracket - €28 approx

Not sure about availabiliy

11.Penfold Yattarna 2002

Welcome to the world of "white grange"

Despite being a 02 vintage, this wine was still very tight and youthful. Golden coloured with a greenish hue.

Richer style, with peachy minearlity to the wine. Really good acidity and an excellent finish.

I really liked this wine until I heard the price - so while I enjoyed it at this price I would have to pass.

Robertfranciswine - 89 plus points

Price Bracket - 70 euros approx

Available from Selected Independents

12.Tyrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay 2001

The tradionalists will love this wine - this had huge oak qualities that for me overpowered the fruit.

Despite its age the wine was still very fresh, had good natural acidity there is a very small amount of malolatic fermented wine blend in [5% approx] Citrus, with Smokey peaches was the flavour profile for me.

I liked it, and would drink it but not sure I would rush out and buy it.

Robertfranciswine - 89 Points

Price Bracket - €40

Available from Selected Independents

A huge thank you to Jane and John for a most enjoyable tasting session.