2011 Nature’s Step Wild Ferment Organic Chardonnay, Virginia, South Australia

Lismore’s Dan Murphy’s a few shelves, in the cheaper area, devoted to organic, preservative-free and/or vegan-suitable wine. The best of the cheapest of these I tried was the 2011 Nature’s Step Wild Ferment Organic Chardonnay, Virginia, South Australia. It’s quite possible that the wild ferment rather than the organic production made this wine a light delight. In a colour of clear light-yellow gold, flashed with lime, it smells of sweet pine, golden syrup and sherbet – the latter always a winner for me. On the palate it’s distinct, with liquored apricots and toast. It finishes early, having a short to mid-length palate. I went back for more at around $10 a bottle. The label has a subdued orange strip matched with a beige block, and a green vine leaf and twine sit above the information. Vegan-suitable.