Brown Brothers Patricia Chardonnay 2021
- 94
- $60
- Drink by: 2023-2028
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The range of wines introduced in 2003 to honour the matriarch of the Brown family continues to impress, reaching ever new heights. I had heard friends raving about this wine before I had the chance to look at it, so I was a bit excited with the anticipation. Suffice to say, the wine lived up to expectations. From the east Coast of Tasmania and the Tamar Valley, it saw full barrel fermentation with 11 months in French oak, 37% new. An attractive yellow/gold hue, the nose is a pleasing mix of grapefruit notes, lemons, ginger and with a slight nuttiness from the oak, though it has melded immaculately. Hints of quince are to be found on the palate which is finely balanced with impressive length. The texture is delightfully silky and seductive too. Expect this to age well for at least three to five 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.
