De Iuliis Chardonnay Hunter Valley 2024
- 92
- $26.95
- Drink by: 2026-2032
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Perhaps better known for his Semillon than his Chardonnay, as indeed is the Hunter Valley itself, Mike de Iuliis continues to build on his stellar reputation. Crowd pleasers like this will ensure he has many new friends. A pleasing pale lemon hue, the wine opens with notes of lemon sponge cake, dried herbs, citrus, apricot skins, nougat, gunflint and matchstick. No lack of flavour here and there is some appealingly creamy oak also evident. Softly textured and of medium length, there is also a gentle line of acidity which maintains its intensity throughout to keep this wine fresh 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.
