Sir Ian Botham Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2017
While the All-Rounder tier represents a blend of wines right across Australia, and the Botham Series comprises a selection of wines from particular regions, the range-topping Sir Ian Botham wines are made up of special parcels, made in partnership with renowned Australian winemakers.
So, the Sir Ian Botham Chardonnay hails from one of the greatest places for this grape in Australia – the Adelaide Hills – and has been made with one of this region’s most respected names, Marty Edwards from The Lane Vineyard.
The wine is delicious, with a mix of peachiness but also citrusy brightness, along with a touch of toasty, slightly smoky oak, and a hint of lemon curd. It is still youthful, with layers of distinct flavours, and, although hard not to drink now, has the potential to age and improve.
Botham told db that he asked Marty to put the wine back into oak barriques for a further six weeks to give the Chardonnay more creaminess, making it a top-end white in keeping with the cricketer’s liking for fuller styles of wine.
Score: 94
RRP: £30
ABV: 13%
Closure: Natural cork
