Clarnette Pyrenees Chardonnay 2024
- 93
- $45
- Drink by: 2026-2032
Share
An impressive Chardonnay from the Pyrenees region, fermentation was in new and two-year-old French puncheons, 50% of them new, before maturation for ten months on lees. The vines are five decades old, impressive for any region in Australia. Gleaming pale lemon in colour, this is a well-structured style of Chardonnay and there are early hints of complexity already evident. There is an attractive texture here and the oak integration has obviously been well handled. Aromas include notes of stone fruits, melons, florals, lemon curd, peaches and nectarines. A wine of medium length with good intensity throughout, this should drink beautifully over the next four to 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.
