Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay 2011

2011 has yielded another first class edition of the Quarry Road vineyard chardonnay in the cool Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation, farmed biodynamically. As I've come to enjoy doing, I tasted this with along with the 2011 Tawse Estate and Robyn's Block chardonnays with labels concealed to avoid preconceived notions, and once again the Quarry Road stands out for its purity, precision and pristine fruit character. The '11 has particularly fine, high-tension acids and beautifully integrated, and subtle, wood influence. The finish lingers on ethereal citrus-green apple fruit consistent with the cool vintage, alongside an ever-more present chalky minerality. This is a fine wine of superb finesse and elegance, and remains my top value in the Tawse range, but don't tell them that. Tasted December 2013. Score - 93. (John Szabo, M.S., winealign.com, Dec. 23, 2013)