Knee Deep Birdhouse Chardonnay 2020
- 91
- $35
- Drink by: 2022 - 2027
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The name, ‘Birdhouse’, is a nod to a place from the history of the team and the family behind the Knee Deep wines, ‘Magpie’s Cottage’, which links them inextricably to the Margaret River region. 2020 was yet another excellent vintage in the Margaret River region – when is it not?
Deep pale gold. This is very much in keeping with what might be termed the ‘house style’ for Knee Deep wines at every level. They exhibit an elegance and finesse that is not necessarily seen too often in some of their contemporaries’ wines. And that certainly is the case here. If big, bold, in-your-face Chardy is your thing, perhaps look elsewhere. If finesse and balanced appeal, these are for you. There are some stonefruit and peach notes but even here, everything is kept well in check and nicely balanced. Good length on the finish and gentle oak integration plus a supple texture. This will drink well for a few years and should continue to improve. If your focus is on scores, I have no doubt that this wine will receive a higher one in a few 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.
