Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay 2020
- 93
- $34
- Drink by: 2022-2027
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The grapes for this delicious Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay come from the estate’s own vineyards at Tuerong and Balnarring. They were whole-bunch pressed to French barriques (a small percentage of which were new), where fermentation was with wild yeasts. Then a little less than a year on lees, before bottling with minimal filtration and no fining. The colour is a lovely pale yellow. Florals, nuts, stonefruits, a hint of citrus and spices on the nose with a flick of oak behind it, which is well
integrated. Seamless, creamy texture, good acidity and excellent length. Delicious now, for sure, but over the next five years might just go up a gear or two.
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.
