Singlefile Single Vineyard Denmark Family Reserve Chardonnay 2018

From the packaging alone you know you’re onto something special! A clear, medium, lemon (almost gold) wine with fine tears appearing.

Clean with medium+ intensity of stone fruit (peach, nectarine), blossom, a touch of oak induced toast and a hint of marzipan – developing nicely.

On the palate the stone fruit comes through with some added citrus and the restrained buttery mouthfeel provided by the partial malo.

High alcohol (14.1%), med+ acid, body and flavours with a med+ finish.

A very good wine which is drinking well now but could be cellared for over decade. A restrained, balanced and almost Burgundian example of this varietal. 95 points.

We served this with a seafood chowder – the acid balancing the fats and the restrained malo complementing the dish’s creaminess. The overall assessment – delicious!

d’Arenberg Ironstone Pressings 2014

Pleasant if not too restrained – primary fruit (cherry, plum) struggling to make an impact on the nose or palate.

Further savoury characteristics on the palate, toasted oak and fine tannins, medium acidity and a medium- finish. High alcohol but once again wasn’t evident in the body. Was expecting more for the price, just scrapes a 90, based on my love of this label.

Not sure that there is much to be gained from by leaving the rest in the cellar but I might wait another year.