Developing and concentrated, the 2009 Chardonnay offers aromas of fresh coffee grounds, cracked toffee, jasmine tea at the bottom of the pot, jersey caramels and yellow peach (sauteed in something spicy) along with star anise, aniseed, fennel flower and all manner of mountains herbs. At 13 years of age, it is looking very pretty. In 2009, there was no new oak in this wine (it usually includes approximately 40% new oak). The burgeoning global financial crisis determined this shift in regime. "Oak is a big cost," says Nic Peterkin (Mike's son)—they diverted more Chardonnay into the LTC in 2009, and no new oak in the 2009 vintage Chardonnay.