We taste-test Wakefield Taylors wines that have to be drunk cold

Usually, when we get review opportunities, we get an accompanying note telling us ‘best served chilled‘ or ‘ideally paired with…‘. Not Wakefield Taylors through. We were told that the best and only way to enjoy red wines are at room temperature only if you live in a French chateau – otherwise 14°C for those not in the know.

A third-generation family wine company, Wakefield Taylors is an Australian wine-maker challenging wine conventions by inspiring wine drinkers to chill – their red wines, specifically.

They’ve gone as far as to create a touch-activated, temperature sensor labels that enhance wine lovers’ drinking experience. Right on the back label of all Wakefield Taylors Family Estate wines is a temperature sensor which utilises thermo-chromatic ink technology. The sensor changes colour depending on the temperature of the wine. Our sensors are customised to each individual varietal, telling you when your wine is at the perfect temperature to enjoy.

READ MORE: We discuss Asia’s love for wine with Sam Stephen’s from Penfolds

Why you should chill your red wine

It is widely believed that red wine should be served at room temperature. But amongst those in the know, popping a red in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving can make all the difference to experiencing it at its best.

And here’s why.

According to the experts, when we say red wine should be served at room temperature, it actually refers to the room temperature or ‘Au chamber’ from the chilly drawing rooms of medieval French castles. So hotter climates like Asia, Australia and more, aren’t suited to keeping your red wine at room temperature.

Now you know.

So, without further adieu, here’s our review of the Wakefield Taylor Estate 2018 Shiraz and Chardonnay.

The alcohol review

We tried the chardonnay and the shiraz chilled to get the best out of the wine and here’s a spoiler – they’re right. It is such a difference to drink a chilled red wine.

We didn’t pair it with anyting in particular, because we wanted to let the wine stand on its own.

First reaction

Crisp. That’s probably the best way to describe both wines when you take that first sip of wine. Usually, a good white can be described that way, but a red tends to be mellower in nature. The temperature definitely changed the initial reaction when we took a sip.

There’s definitely a hint of citrus – grapefruit maybe – from the chardonnay and its a pleasant way to start your night. The shiraz was full-bodied and surprisingly dry with an almost smokey quality. Very interesting and definitely made us want to carry on.

READ MORE: Read our honest review on Bass & Flinders Maritime gin and Orient gin

The taste

Jumping right into it, the chardonnay was ripe and with a fruity aroma that gave it an almost sweet flavour. It wasn’t quite as full-bodied as I prefer, but quite well balanced in terms of flavours. Pairing the citrus with other fruits was a smart choice, giving the wine a nice finish that leaves the tongue feeling refreshed.

The shiraz on the other hand was chilled to a frosty 14°C and this made all the difference. The full-bodied wine has similar tasting notes to a single malt whiskey with an oaky taste to it, as well as cherry and plum – very pleasant and easygoing. Served cold, the wine was smooth – balanced well in terms of acidity and finish – so drinking it was easy. Maybe a little bit too easy, as we finished the bottle pretty fast.

How you should enjoy it

While we didn’t pair the wines with any food, based on our experience, the chardonnay would pair well with a chicken dish – maybe roasted. Almost perfect for a night-in with the family or loved ones.

The shiraz feels like it does not quite need to be paired to be thoroughly enjoyable, but definitely does not fit into the traditional categories due to the 14°C temperature. The smooth finish also means it could even work well with a strong flavoured white meat, while almost being a good complement to a steak.

So there you have it, our honest appraisal of two of the Wakefield Taylor’s 2018 Estate wines. We do recommend it for those looking for a reliable wine for a night in or even hosting a dinner party. We also highly recommend following their instructions to chill the wines before serving for the best experience.