Ghost Gum Southern Lights Chardonnay 2023
- 94
- $90
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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The third release of the Ghost Gum wines from Mornington Peninsula, more specifically the legendary Main Ridge sub-region, and great to see standards are being maintained. Whole bunch pressing, the wine saw a wild ferment in a mix of French oak barrels, 300 litre and 500 litre, 30% of them new. 30% of the blend was unsulphured to increase both freshness and complexity. Under diam. Straw lemon, the nose exhibits notes of stone fruit, almonds, spices, peaches, a hint of pear, citrus, notably orange blossoms, and a touch of herbs, with a flinty, minerally backing. This is still very much a youthful Chardonnay and the best is yet to come. The oak has been deftly handled, there is juicy acidity and there is real intensity. A wine of focus and serious length, which will continue to improve over the next decade. A cracker.
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.
