2014 Chalmers Fiano

Chalmers

Australia / Heathcote / Chalmers

Chalmers Fiano is whole bunch-pressed and wild fermented on fine solids in stainless steel tanks. The temperature of fermentation is limited to 15 degrees. After fermentation is finished the wine rests on lees in very old french oak barriques for 10 months before being bottled. The Fiano is then aged in bottle for at least a further 12 months before release allowing the wine to develop in richness and texture. The 2014 Fiano shows white flowers, fresh white stone fruits and flinty notes on the nose. Almond bitterness and savoury lees contact characters balance more stonefruit on the focused but generous, textured palate completed by a lingering, refreshing finish.

August, 2016

James Halliday

Halliday Wine Companion 2017

92 points

Striking tree blossom aromas then tangy, crisp acidity finishing a palate with tantalising notes of beeswax. Fiano in its element.

January, 2017

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front

92 points

Straw-coloured. Taut, brooding style. Stonefruits and spice with a subtle cedary-creaminess. Honeysuckle. It gets your juices flowing as you put your thinking cap on. There’s a bit of mineral to this, but the fruit prevails. The dude abides. Perfectly pitched in all ways.

June, 2017

Huon Hooke

Gourmet Traveller WINE

90 points

This delicious dry white has some nutty barrel-ferment notes and reamy lees overtones, the texture soft and fine but also rich. Good balance and drinkability.

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About Chalmers

The Chalmers family was justly named 2014 Viticulturist of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE. Their commitment to innovation and excellence has made them a pivotal force in the Australian wine scene for more than 20 years. Bruce and Jenni began growing grapes in the 1980s, with their vineyard at Euston developing into one the largest and most diverse privately owned vineyards in the country. Their nursery business was responsible for importing a selection of around 70 new clones and varieties, many of which are now used in the production of Chalmers' Italian variety wines. Since selling the original vineyard in 2008 the family has established two new sites: one in Heathcote, henceforth responsible for all Chalmers wines, and one at Merbein where the family will continue to experiment with new varieties and clones. Very much a family concern, daughters Kim and Tennille are now driving this exciting business forward.

About

Kim studied at the University of Adelaide before joining the family business. She has been director at Chalmers Wines since 2005, managing operations from the vine to the wine list. In 2011 she was awarded an AgriFoods Skills Australia Overseas Fellowship, for which she wrote a paper entitled “Hot climate wine growing, making and marketing in Southern Italy and its application in Australia”. Kim's husband, winemaker Bart van Olphen completed the family team in 2011, a year after sister Tennille joined the business full time following a 10-year career in hospitality, most recently as a sommelier. The Chalmers sisters have been pivotal in turning the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show into a major event on the wine awards calendar. In 2015 they also spearheaded 21st Century Vino, an initiative to increase awareness and expertise in Italian vine varieties grown in Australia.