Swinging Bridge 2011 Reserve Chardonnay

A review …

Swinging Bridge 2011 Reserve Chardonnay

Region: Orange NSW | $32

With apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan, and hoping my doggerel scans reasonably well, this is the very model of a modern major chardy.

It’s complex and has loads of flavour, but it’s restrained and, at least initially, quite subtle for a white wine carrying a reasonably hefty 13.2 per cent alcohol.
The primary flavours are of stonefruit and melon, the oak quite gentle, and the acidity refreshing. This is a wine I very much like.

Swinging Bridge owner and winemaker Tom Ward suggests chardonnay could take over from sauvignon blanc as Orange’s hero variety. I certainly think it can and hope it does.
While I have immense regard for the district’s ability to grow top-class savvy, you’d hardly want your hero status resting on what at least a few critics regard as a Kiwi weed.

Visit www.swingingbridge.com.au.

— JOHN ROZENTALS*

*John Rozentals is a Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) graduate.

Samples for tasting and review should be addressed to John Rozentals, PO Box 3484, Rhodes 2138.