Sir Ian Botham’s wine range tasted and rated

The Botham 76 Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2017

Moving up in terms of price and quality, the next three wines in Botham’s new line-up are all regional expressions of Australia’s signature grapes – Chardonnay, Cabernet and Shiraz.

This tier, price at £12, has been named the Botham Series, with each wine celebrating a year that Botham performed a remarkable cricketing feat.

Starting with the 76 Series Margaret River Chardonnay, this represents the year he first scored 1000 runs in one season and played grade cricket for the illustrious Melbourne Cricket club.

As the name shows, this Chardonnay is sourced entirely from Western Australia’s Margaret River region, using fruit from two specific vineyards, one closer to the sea for more citrus flavours and the other further inland to bring more stone fruit characters.

The result is a structured, bright, medium-weight style of white wine with ripe fruit. Combining flavours of lemon and apple with apricots and melon, along with a note of peanuts from lees stirring and barrel maturation, this is a wine with many layers, and enough power to serve with a range of foods.

Score: 91

RRP: £12

ABV: 13%

Closure: Screwcap

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