It’s a modest effort by this winery. Not overly aggressive, this wine doesn’t try too hard to please but it’s not terrible either. Another in a series of so-so wines I’ve had of late.

The wine has a clear, bright, medium straw-yellow color, without a lot of structure to it. There seems to be very little your nose might detect with this one, but taste wise, there’s moderate fruit notes, low acidity, some oak taste, a nice balance and a crisp, if short, finish. There’s also a nice balance between sweet and dry that makes this wine pleasant to drink, but not spectacular. There aren’t any off notes and its taste seems to improve if it is served a little warmer than a typical chardonnay.

Grade: B- Price: $8

Wine Reviewed:
The Little Penguin
2005
Chardonnay
South Eastern
Australia
Closure: Synthetic Cork
Alcohol: 13.5% by volume.
www.thelittlepenguin.com