Savaterre 'Frere Cadet' Chardonnay 2023
The Wine
Translates as ‘Younger Brother’ - Frere Cadet represents Savaterre’s ‘2nd Label’. It’s produced when rare parcels of particularly outstanding Beechworth grapes become available. It’s crafted with the same precision and intensity as the ‘Estate’ bottling.
White Burgundy like, with an alluring gunflint character on the nose and complex attack on the palate. Super morish, long and offering an approachable, character filled wine at friendly price tag for its level!
95 Pts Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion 'An exceptional vintage, which in Beechworth generally equals exceptional chardonnay. You won't be disappointed. Made in the style of Savaterre chardonnay with fruit sourced from a nearby vineyard, it brings the same luxurious class to the grape. Intense, fragrant aromas and layers of flavour in Asian pear, lemon tart, lime zest, white peach and summer stone fruits with toasted hazelnuts. Offers a multi-dimensional escape into chardonnay where richness meets complexity meets a fine-edged acid tension meets warm toasted oak meets delicious drinking. It's chewy and nicely grippy to close, with spice lasting long into the finish.'
94 Pts Tom Kline, Inside Burgundy 'Trademark struck match and curry leaf reduction defines the opening before a push through of peach skin, dehydrated lime, fine cedar, riverstone minerality and citrus preserves. Time in the glass reveals the wine’s nutty notes in the form of cashew and almond adding savoury complexity. The palate has power and glycerol-like texture and that’s quickly sliced up by assertive structure. White peach, ripe nectarine, preserved lime, lime zest and cashew drive through the mouth buoyed and drawn in by bright and powerful lime-laced acidity and chalky grip to long length. For a cuvée name that translates to ‘little brother’, there’s nothing little about it. Power and complexity in lovely balance. Drink from 2025–2031.'
94 Pts Garry Walsh, The Wine Front 'Quite a bit of struck match here, nectarine, lime zest, kind of exotic in spice with ginger and lemongrass perfume, hazelnut and seaweed. It’s juicy and flavoursome, peach and lime, grilled pineapple, a little smoky and toasty, with bright grapefruit acidity, some gloss and viscosity in with some flinty bits, and closes with a finish of excellent length. Lovely wine with something of a gourmand character. Yum.'
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Beechworth
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Savaterre vineyard, tucked away in the mountains of northeastern Victoria, near the charming town of Beechworth is one of Australia’s leading exponents of Chardonnay. Owner and winemaker Keppell Smith first discovered the granite-rich slope on Beechworth’s renowned “Golden Mile” back in 1996. Since then, his Chardonnays have become some of the most exceptional in the country - complex, age-worthy, and world-class!
