The Sunday Morning Sommelier: Duck Duck Goose Chardonnay
Aug 29th, 2010
Alcohol content: 13%
Price: $9.99
Description per label: Crisp green straw colour. White stone fruit and floral esters to tantalize your senses. Citrus on the front pallet followed by smooth peach and nectarine layers.
Review: While on a business trip to Sydney in 1997, I made the realization that the Aussie’s are among the world’s finest alcohol enthusiasts. During an outbound trip through the Outback I met an Aborigines medicine man, Mandu. He was wandering about with his two friends, Akama and Yuka. Traveling with wine as I always do, I introduced them to several varietals. Mandu then insisted I sample some of his Corkwood Tree liquor to “enrich my spirit”. It was musty and tart with notes of peat moss with a dry finish. It did however make me vomit convulsively and gave me some harsh visual hallucinations. In time, jubilation set in and lifelong friendships were struck.
Akama (left) and Yuka (right) emoting their first taste of pinot noir.
The four of us conversed nonstop for what seemed like days and euphorically sampled many wines and smoking herbs. At one point in the celebration, I taught the three aboriginal gents the game of duck,duck, goose. Akama burnt his feet in the fire and Yuka ended up in a eucalyptus tree squawking like a bird, but I digress…
Duck Duck Goose is an Australian “value” Chardonnay. It’s interesting to note this Aussie vintner has managed to remove the classic chardonnay presence of oak. In typical ‘down under’ fashion, the wine maker also applies the adroit use of the screw-off cap. The wine boasts a fruity bouquet with a light-bodied taste that encompasses flavors of citrus, with layers of melon and orange. A hint of Starfruit presents itself on the backside leaving an aftertaste that is lasting and acidic. All and all this Aussie production wine is no trip to Sydney. On the SMS Scale (1-10) I humbly rate this Chardonnay a 5.
Suggested pairings: Pan-Seared Barramundi with “Caruru”, shrimp on the barbie, and Corkwood Tree Tea.
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Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment
