Clonakilla Chardonnay 2024
- 95
- $45
- Drink by: 2025-2031
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Tim Kirk sources his Chardonnay from high altitude – around 700 metres – vineyards in Tumbarumba. It would be fair to say that I suspect most people do not think of Clonakilla when they are talking top level Chardonnay, but, on the evidence of wines like this, I have no idea why. This is all class. An absolute belter. The grapes were whole bunch pressed into French oak puncheons, 30% new. Straw gold in hue, this is a fabulous Chardonnay and it revealed more every time one looked at it. There is already some serious complexity here. We have notes of cashews, a touch of hazelnuts, white peaches, jasmine, stone fruits, florals and ginger on the nose. There is fresh juicy acidity and the creamiest of textures. A flick of oak is still evident as integration proceeds and notes of apricot kernels emerge on the palate. There is real energy and excellent length here. Love it. Drink for six years, longer if need be.
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.
