Bago Vineyards Chardonnay 2003 Fast Facts:
Country: Australia
Region: Hastings River, New South Wales
Winemaker: Jim Mobbs
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Closure: Cork
Oak: 8 weeks in 3-yo French Oak
RRP: $14.50 AU

The second of the promised two Chardonnay notes. A complete contrast to the Briar Ridge wine tasted earlier in the week with a minimal amount of oak treatment…

A little bit about the winery: From the Bago Vineyards website –

“Our name … was adopted because of the vineyard’s close proximity to the Broken Bago Mountain, and Bago Bluff (pictured on our labels) is an eye-catching landmark in the area. The word ‘Bago’ seems to have been shortened from ‘bagho’ which, in turn, may have derived from the aboriginal word for the mountain, ‘bulkara’ “.

Established in 1985 and currently making around 6000 cases of wine a year, with 12.5 acres of vines. 75% of planted vines are dedicated to Chambourcin, which is somewhat of a Hastings River regional speciality.

Jim and Kay Mobbs are assisted in the winemaking by John Cassegrain, who, along with his parents sparked a revival in Hastings River vine plantings in 1980, after a long period of inactivity since around World War II.

Website: http://www.bagovineyards.com.au
Email: info@bagovineyards.com.au

Tasting Note: A straw yellow in appearance. Uncomplicated nose of sweet smelling stonefruit. Light to medium in body weight on the palate. The finish was rather unexciting and held what seemed to be a touch of unexpected sweetness that detracted from the wine.

Drinking Window: I think that this is best drunk soon, with little complexity to be gained from any extended cellaring. 2005 – 2006.

Score: This is a good “everyday” drink, it would ideally be served chilled with a light summer lunch. Rated at 84 points, with a value rating of Average.

See “How to interpret my scores” for an explanation of how the above scores were reached.

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