Quite an interesting thread / gazetteer to revisit! A wave of some of these have hit our shores, so I tried the 2017 Xanadu ‘Stevens Road’ Chardonnay [Margaret River] over 3 days. It was likable, although on the higher end of the acidity scale (tastewise for me). Although trite, it felt ‘Burgundian’ to me, with Otto’s description of the 2019 noting whole bunch pressing, natural yeast, and (part new) barrel fermentation. Malo was blocked here. 13% abv, screwcapped. Lots of lemon, but despite 8 years of age, I don’t find a complex bouquet yet, and, if anything, it tastes very youthful/vibrant/zesty. I’d characterize it as light/medium body with a typical straw color for the age. I enjoyed it the most on the 3rd day, as it had absorbed oxygen, so perhaps this will keep on aging, steered by a strong citrus spine. Critics love this - particularly Halliday - but it’s not in my wheelhouse, even though I did enjoy it. I probably will not reload, even though I want to support the concept of premium OZ bottlings exported to CA (at silly low prices). I might slot this into the B or B+ zone, but the AFWE / Burgchasers would enjoy it more, and mark it higher.
Australian regions and names to me sound so charmingly alien!