Chain of Ponds Morning Star Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023
- 94
- $35
- Drink by: 2025-2031
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Three vineyards in the Adelaide Hills provided the fruit for this excellent Pinot Noir. One from Kuitpo, one from Woodside and the final vineyard being a high elevation vineyard in Paechtown. The overall inclusion of whole bunches was 30%. Maturation was in a mix of new and older French oak puncheons for a period of eight months. The team include a dollop of Gamay to add to the complexity. Russet/red in colour, there is no doubting the use of whole bunches here. There is certainly a slight sappy aspect to the wine, but this is well integrated throughout. The nose reveals notes of truffles, kirsch, charcuterie, raspberries, warm earth and dried herbs with a hint of sour cherries on the finish. Neatly balanced with juicy acidity, there is good persistence here. Like it a lot. 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.
