Brokenwood Oakey Vineyard Chardonnay 2025
- 94
- $66
- Drink by: 2026-2036
Share
Chardonnay from the Oakey Creek Vineyard, pressed as whole bunches into French oak barrels for native yeast fermentation. 36% new oak. While the 2025 vintage might have been condensed, it is looking like a very good one. Pale lemon/yellow, this is an intense yet balanced and elegant style of Chardonnay which is most impressive. Gentle oak integration is evident, but to be honest I would not pick this as a Hunter Valley Chardonnay. It just seems too good (with apologies to some of the truly excellent Chardies the region can offer). We have notes of stone fruits, florals, peaches, citrus and nectarines. The wine is balanced and focused and the palate sees the emergence of sea breeze notes and grapefruit. Excellent length here, it should drink impressively over the next six to ten years and during that period, one could reasonably expect the score to perhaps climb a smidge higher.
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.
