Allegiance Wines The Matron Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2021
- 91
- $30
- Drink by: 2023-2029
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The wine is dedicated to Australian Bush Nurses, a wonderfully worthy cause to which we can all raise a glass. Fermented and then matured, for seven months, in lightly toasted French oak, 15% new, it also sees gentle bâtonnage while on lees for a period of four months. The colour here is a lovely pale gleaming yellow. The aromas weave through citrus, cashews, lemons, a hint of ginger and peaches. Lean in style, there is a pleasing minerally backing and good intensity throughout. The wine exhibits delightful freshness and very early hints of complexity with great persistence. It will certainly drink well, and improve, over the next four to six years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
