Coates 2023 Adelaide Hills The Chardonnay

Duane Coates make impressive wines.

Let's get that fact across from the start.

Adelaide Hills based, his Chardonnays are invariably benchmark setters.

This 2023 is deceptively close to a Burgundy. Meursault? 

Fermented and aged in French oak, you'd be hard pressed (Ha!) to discern the Aussie influence yet Aussie it is.

Ripe fruit is the tell tale. Peachy. Peary. Apple-y.

A finish long as a croc's tail, it tells a tale of French roots grown on cool climate Adelaide Hills terroir i.e. dirt.

We could happily drink this every day so long as an appropriate starter or main accompanied it.

With poached Spencer Gulf prawns, wasabi sorbet, wasabi mayo and toasted chia seeds this wine shone like a diamond but it would have shone just as bright with melted tasty cheese on toast.

Crab omelette Chinese style?

Salmon gravlax with horseradish and rye crisps?

Poached chicken with mustard sauce and boiled new potatoes?

Pan fried rainbow trout amandine or with lemon, butter and capers?

Vitello tonnato?

Oysters Rockefeller?

Best available Parmigiano Reggiano and best baguette?

You get the picture.