Velo Wines Legana Estate 2017 Chardonnay – Tasmania

We visited the Velo Wines cellar door on our trip to Tassie in April. Velo are located in the Tamar Valley, just out of Launceston in northern Tasmania. We actually popped in twice, as we wanted to drop off our box of wine to send back to Gippsland, although this was going to cost more than taking it as extra luggage on the plane, so we decided against it.

Their cellar door was nice and cosy and I absolutely loved their re-purposed wine barrel for their firewood.

We learnt that the winery started out as Legana Estate in 1966 by Graham Wiltshire – an icon of the Tasmanian wine scene. In 2001, the winery was re-branded to Velo Wines by Michael and Mary Wilson. The name is a tribute to Michael’s career as an Olympic cyclist. Then in 2017 the current owners took over the vineyard  under the guidance of former Moore’s Hill founder Rod Thorpe.

I wish we had more time in the Tamar Valley as I hear the onsite restaurant – Timbre Kitchen – is great too.

After tasting through the range, it was the 2017 Chardonnay that ticked all the boxes for me and Mr Spittoon.

It’s a hand harvested Chardonnay which is whole bunch pressed directly into old and new French oak barrels for wild fermentation.

Here are our notes on it:

In the glass it’s like a brilliant yellow diamond colour. On the nose it has a minerality freshness backed with stonefruit, grapefruit and some lemongrass. In the mouth it’s fresh and fruity with a nice lick of vanillin oak. It’s got a gorgeous body to it and is simply bloody easy to drink.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy!