Our "junior" chardonnay was awarded wine of the week last week. It's a very well priced wine and as Huon Hooke says it is perfect to drink with seafood pasta or some creamy brie. Enjoy!



Julie Hounsell

Huon Hooke refers to the Toolangi 2007 Reserve Chardonnay as one of the most complex and deliriously hedonistic, chardonnays I've drunk in years. Hooke has written an excellent article in the Sydney Morning Herald explaining the shift occurring in Australian chardonnay styles.

"Another rich style I like is Toolangi, of the Yarra Valley. The owner, Garry Hounsell, has a unique approach: he produces three wines off his single 12-hectare vineyard and employs three winemakers with vastly contrasting approaches to make them. The result is three nicely differentiated styles, all of them excellent.

The entry-level $25 wine is made in large licks by Yering Station (where Willy Lunn has succeeded Tom Carson as winemaker) - about 3500 dozen. Even this very affordable wine is a lovely, rich and quite complex style and the latest release 2009 (13.2 per cent alcohol) should satisfy the most exacting ''chardomaniac''.

The Estate bottling is made by David Bicknell at Oakridge, a leader in lower-alcohol chardonnay. The 2007 is current at $50 and is a typical Bicknell - tight, refined style with 12.5 per cent alcohol. Hounsell rates it very highly. The Reserve, also a 2007 vintage ($90), is made by Giaconda's Rick Kinzbrunner in his typically riper style with 14.2 per cent alcohol. It's one of the biggest, but also the most complex and deliriously hedonistic, chardonnays I've drunk in years, with masses of roast hazelnut and creme brulee toffee/caramel notes. It demands rich food such as buttery lobster or creamy roast chicken. I love it."



Julie

Accolades all round for our 2010 Pinot Noir.

This newly released Pinot Noir is our first vintage since 2008. Vintage conditions in 2009 were difficult so we are thrilled to have such a well received 2010 Pinot Noir.

The wine featured in last week's Herald Sun Top 100 Wines magazine.

Rick Allen from the Hills Shire Times also gave this excellent review.

If you prefer your pinots with some grunt, then this one from the Yarra Valley isn't your boy. It's finer and leaner - the sort you need to roll around in the mouth and give a chance. If you do, you'll find that the seductive florals and perfumes you want of pinot are there in abundance, opening up to soft, gentle cherry and earthy, spice flavours. Good drinking.

Julie

Our Chardonnays shine once again. 

Tony Love and his team tasted 5000 bottles of wine for the Australia wide Top 100 Wines magazine in today's Herald Sun.

Only twelve chardonnays were chosen and three of Toolangi's Chardonnays received a mention. In particular our 2007 Estate Chardonnay.

This vintage is flowering right now in the bottle, showing deep aromas of fruit with creme caramels enriching the palate yet never feeling overblown or buttery.

We are thrilled to be part of the selection.

Julie

Toolangi 2009 Denton Chardonnay and Toolangi 2007 Estate Chardonnay have both won GOLD at the Victorian Wines Show 2011.

The Denton pipped the Estate Chardonnay by 0.5 points to win TOP GOLD WINE with 56 points. The 2007 Estate Chardonnay also GOLD at 55.5 points.

Judges comments: VERY STRONG CLASS - TOP GOLD AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY.

The prestigious Victorian Wines Show has been promoting wines from Victorian since 1981. It was the only wine show promoting wines made from grapes grown and produced in Victoria and remains so today.

"This innovative show is a benchmark of Victorian wine: An expression of Victorian producers’ philosophical approach to growing and making wine."

We are proud to represent the Yarra Valley in this Show and are thrilled with our results. Another tribute to our inspired team of winemakers.

Julie and Garry

Our 2010 Pinot Noir is drinking really well. And today Ralph Kyte-Powell said the same.

RALPH KYTE-POWELL, EPICURE, THE AGE
18 October 2011

A relatively pale, gentle Yarra Valley wine, this "standard" Toolangi pinot noir has subtle floral, cherry and spice fragrances. The pleasant varietal personality tracks across the palate, agreeably soft, continuing through a long, perfumed aftertaste. Understated but a wine of outstanding balance. Drink over two years. Grilled chicken; roast salmon.

Julie

The 10th birthday of Toolangi Vineyards was the perfect time to redesign the label for the Yarra Valley range. The native forest theme has been retained to reflect the vineyard location adjacent to the Toolangi State Forest. Watercolour brush strokes portray a free flowing version of the picturesque forest.

It's a bright and breezy label. Just like the wine.

We've had some great reviews.

Hot off the press The Age 2012 Good Wine Guide review:

"Estate fruit from the Toolangi Dixon's Creek vineyard has been transformed by two winemakers into a bright, floral red-cherry style of pinot, sappy and perfumed. It's a lithe and juicy palate here, really balanced and even, delivering crunchy, upbeat, early-drinking enjoyment."

Julie

It was all hands on deck with the bottling of our limited release 2010 Reserve Chardonnay at Giaconda in Beechworth.

Rick thinks this is one of the best Reserve Chardonnays we have made.

Lemon lime colour with a slight golden characteristic. Incredible depth and length.

I also think it is one of the best we have made!

Garry

 

The Melbourne Wine Room in St Kilda has a great atmosphere.

Even better atmosphere if you are tasting some well reviewed chardonnays.

Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine has teamed up with 10 chardonnay creators from Australia and NZ.

And Toolangi's award winning 2007 Estate Chardonnay will be there.

The dinner is on Wednesday 26 October. Give Laura Hanrahan from Gourmet Traveller Wine a call on 02 8116 9386 if you would like to be part of this Chardonnay Tasting hosted by Nick Stock.

We'll be there, so say hello!

Julie

This year James Halliday tasted 8386 wines for his encyclopedic Wine Companion.

And once again we were awarded five star winery status which is a real credit to our winemakers.

We were also pleased to see our Denton Chardonnay receive a rating of 94.



Current wines, with Halliday ratings, in our range are: 2009 Chardonnay 92 points, 2007 Estate Chardonnay 95 points, 2007 Reserve Chardonnay 94 points, 2009 Denton Chardonnay 94 points, 2006 Shiraz 90 points, 2008 Estate Shiraz 94 points, 2006 Reserve Shiraz 95 points, 2010 Pinot Noir, 2006 Estate Pinot Noir 95 points, and 2010 Viognier 90 points.

Julie