Chardonnay, 2019. Farm to Table

The Fowles Wine vineyards and winery are located in the dramatic granite landscape of Strathbogie Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. Fowles Wine crafts some of Australia's finest cool climate wines, winning many of Australia's most prestigious wine medals and trophies.

Winemaker Matt Fowels grew up on a farm tending sheep and vineyards before becoming a big city lawyer in Victoria, Australia. His success as an attorney afforded him the luxury of eating in the finest restaurants his country has to offer. As a result, he became obsessed with making wines that go with food. He's one of the few, if not the only, winemaker who has specific dishes to go with his wine. We find this fascinating as Matt goes deep into the crevices of the luxurious wines he creates as well as flavors and textures of the food that would work best with it. Our selection hailed from a particularly low yield vintage. This meant that the wine was more intense than usual.

As a result, he matured his Chardonnay in large French oak barrels to introduce a touch of vanilla and spice that expands the fruit of the grape instead of competing with it. It is pure perfection. Matt recommends, and we agree, this wine needs powerful flavors to show off its stuffing. Dishes like lobster in a rich butter sauce served on saffron risotto would be an elixir beyond words. Even shrimp and scallops in a richly reduced tomato sauce could not hide the spectacular white peach and tropical fruit components which follow through to the snappy finish.

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