March Wines of the Month: Derwent Estate Chardonnay 2010 & De Bortoli Estate Syrah 2010

Both my March Wines of the Month are exciting finds from my recent trip Down Under and, if you can find them, worth shelling out for.

The Derwent Estate isn’t imported to the UK but this Tasmanian Chardonnay fair blew me away. As visceral an example of the island’s cool climate credentials as you could hope to find.

As for the De Bortoli, of all the regions I visited, the Yarra Valley was just bursting with energy and firing on all cylinders, including Syrah/Shiraz , which has been well and truly ‘Pinoted’ (click here for my report).

Derwent Estate Chardonnay 2010 (Tasmania)

If there’s a Tasmanian wine that’s particularly etched on my mind it would be this Chardonnay from (most unusual) limestone soils (pictured). Small wonder that Penfolds source fruit for their flagship Chardy Yattarna from here. It wears its cool climate credentials firmly on its sleeve. Super steely, mineral and taut, it’s hard to believe that this almost painfully intense (such is its youth), singular wine underwent 100% malo. Powerfully structured, with its charge of mineral acidity, tightly coiled grapefruit and lipsmacking saline notes, it’s a tour de force. This exciting wine needs time and I’d really love to see how it pans out. Well, judging by the fact Jancis Robinson included the 2007 in her Tassie favourites (click here for her insightful take on the island).

De Bortoli Estate Syrah 2010 (Yarra Valley)

A deep colour with lifted, spicy, subtly green whole bunch notes on an enticingly perfumed nose and palate. Ready to rock and roll its soft, well integrated acidity makes for a really juicy, drinkable wine with silky tannins and ultra fluid white pepper edged blood plum, black cherry and berry. It’s a Bistro wine, says Webber, for people who love drinking wine with food. Delicious now and for mid-term drinking. UK RRP £17-18.99. It’s yet to arrive on these shores – contact Becky Fisher at de Bortoli UK on 01747 830962 for details.