Chain of Ponds Reserve Chardonnay 2025
- 93
- $35
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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Maturation for this fine Adelaide Hills Chardonnay was in a mix of new and older French oak puncheons and hogsheads. The yeast was also a mix, natural and cultured. Maturation was over eight months on lees, although the team made certain that around 40% of the blend saw minimal oak, in an effort to maintain the pristine purity of the wine. The final wine was a barrel selection. Gleaming yellow in colour, this is fresh and youthful and it does exhibit gentle hints of barrel fermentation. The nose reveals notes of cashews, stone fruits, melon, peaches and a touch of lime leaves. There is a line of good acidity and intensity is maintained throughout. Well balanced and already exhibiting an attractive textural aspect, there is good length here and the wine has its best years ahead of it. Enjoy over the next eight 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.
