Below & Above Chardonnay 2017

The Below & Above Chardonnay 2017 is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay offering the best of both worlds. It has a rich complexity and luxurious texture along with crisp fruity flavours. This small batch wine is perfect with food – think roast chicken or creamy pasta. 

We aren’t the biggest white wine drinkers in our house, but the one white we do get around is a good Chardonnay. My partner is obsessed with heavily oaked Chardonnay. The more oaked the better for him (I know, he is in a minority). But I love those Chardonnay’s that play with oak and balance it with the flavours of the wine. Those sorts of wines that nod to it, and have those buttery and creamy characteristics, but also have great fruit and acidity to balance out the richness.

On Friday night I was making my favourite roast chicken dish, and I couldn’t think of a better wine pairing than a Chardonnay. I was so excited that it gave me an excuse to crack open this beautiful one from Below & Above Wines. Not that I really needed it! This wine is from Pemberton and I haven’t tried any from this region in Western Australia yet, so I was so excited to get the chance. It is known for Pinot Noir but particularly its Chardonnay, so you are certainly in for a treat in this bottle. I can tell you it definitely didn’t disappoint and made for the perfect Friday night accompaniment to a home-cooked meal!

The Below & Above Chardonnay 2017 is a foodies dream

Below & Above Wines was started when the family purchased the vineyard in 2012 after falling in love with the region on holidays. Since then it has become an award-winning vineyard renowned for its small production of quality wines. They only produce limited amounts of their wines to control the quality and ensure each bottle is aged optimally before release. So you know you are getting the best! Their name pays homage to how they use the land – growing truffles below ground and wine above ground. If that isn’t one of the best combinations I don’t know what is!

The Below & Above Chardonnay 2017 is part of their new release of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Merlot. Only 5,600 bottles were made of the Chardonnay, so you have to get in quick to nab one or two for yourself! It was picked one month later than usual and produced using whole cluster pressing to preserve the fruit flavours in the wine. Fermentation was on lees in French Oak barrels with partial malolactic fermentation. What does this mean? The wine has been produced to have a good balance between fruit flavours, buttery characteristics of oaked Chardonnay, and acidity. So if you are playing along, this wine is right up my alley.

Why I loved it

As I alluded to above, I really enjoyed the Below & Above Chardonnay 2017. First off, the colour. It is bright and golden, alluding to the butteriness of the Chardonnay you’re about to try. But don’t be fooled – it isn’t over the top oaked. It is so well balanced that I loved every sip. It sits in the medium-bodied category and has a great nose. You get those aromas of oak and a hint of butterscotch along with some nectarine or peach.

In the glass, this wine really sings. It has a great fruit presence upfront with some minerality, crisp acidity and is followed by a rich and decadent toasty oak and buttery goodness. This wine is complex and well balanced at the same time, offering elegant, delicate richness. I thought the oak was just right – enough to really give the wine added complexity, but not so much that it overpowered everything else. It also had a long finish which I loved.

So who will love this wine? Well, if you love Chardonnay that is oaked, but also like an unoaked Chardonnay, this is the wine for you. If you aren’t a lover of oaked Chardonnay, I think you still would like this wine as it is so well integrated. It is a great option for those looking for a slightly more rich wine for Summer. Something that is cool and refreshing, but offers a little more decadence.

What to enjoy it with

The Below & Above Chardonnay 2017 is such a great food white wine. It really lends itself to a good meal and would be perfect for a special occasion. It isn’t the cheapest Chardonnay, but it will seriously bring your dinner to the next level. I think Chardonnay is a great option for a Summer dinner, especially if it is as balanced as this one. It has those summer crisp flavours but a certain decadence which makes it perfect for sharing with a good meal.

This went oh so well with our roast chicken, and so this would be my recommendation. However, Chardonnay is one of those great wines which will go with plenty of food. It would also pair very well with creamy dishes like pasta and risotto, or even seafood. Don’t go anything too light, but also don’t go anything too heavily spiced. Not looking for something for dinner? Well, this wine would go perfectly with some rich cheeses.

The final word on the Below & Above Chardonnay 2017

The Below & Above Chardonnay 2017 is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay that is truly a good time. It is rich and decadent yet still crisp and refreshing. It’s really the best of both worlds. Although it isn’t the cheapest Chardonnay on the market, it is worth its weight in gold-hued wine! It’s complex, balanced and absolutely perfect with food. You can really taste the love and hard work that’s gone into this bottle, and with only 5,600 bottles available of the 2017, you better jump in quick if you want to try it for yourself!

You can purchase this wine as well as the rest of the Below & Above range on their website.

Note: I was sent this wine as a sample, I was under no obligation to review it.