Bindi Quartz 2024. Peaches and sunshine. Marzipan and almond meal, pollen and a thread of cordite. Clean and pulsing with energy. Fleshy and bold in the mouth; generous, with baking spices and warmth. V. Good, and yet I hesitate to post a tasting note. . . the longer the gaps, the more my self doubt. . . I open a second and then a third bottle to triple check. . . and I come to a similar conclusion each time, it’s an excellent Chardonnay, and yet my words seem incomplete. The oak treatment is subtle – lending a background richness and understated polish; the acids wonderful; lots of layers and finesse; restraint and beauty.
In between the three Bindi I sample a few glasses of 2016 Cullen ‘Kevin John’ Chardonnay. It’s much more mature (obviously), golden and nutty, laden with figs and spice. Rounded and cuddly, the tension replaced with softness. Good – Very.
A further counterpoint is the 2018 Frankland Isolation Ridge Riesling. Sharp and bright, but starting to turn. Both sides of the coin are on display. Floral powder and a trace of burnish and kero. It’s still mostly green youth, but the first and early signs of development are starting to show. Excellent.
Image: Bluff knoll, looking East on a misty morning towards Ellen peak (1034m) and Pyungoorup peak (1053m)
