Briar Ridge The Squire Chardonnay 2024
- 92
- $27
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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The Squire Vineyard was the original name of the estate in the Hunter Valley and Chardonnay was the first white variety that was planted there. This wine is a blend of Hunter and Orange (as in district, not colour) fruit. The colour here is a pale lemon. The nose reveals the freshness evident throughout, along with citrus notes, a touch of peach and mandarin, with gentle honeycomb on the finish. There is a lovely texture here while the wine retains elegance. The palate sees a move to more spicy territory with a flick of apricot. A wine of medium length, enjoy it over the next eight years. Good buying.
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.
