Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2021
- 93
- $50
- Drink by: 2023-2029
Share
The fruit for the Estate Chardonnay is sourced from the Faultline and Farrago vineyards. The team find that the fruit is sourced from the same parcels in the vineyards, vintage after vintage. Whole bunch pressing into French oak barriques, 19% of which were new. Wild yeast fermentation and then ageing on lees for 11 months. Not hard to see why 2021 is considered as such a special vintage in the region when we look at this wine. Lemon/gold hue. Youthful but showing good intensity and early hints of complexity. Peaches and nectarines, spices, stonefruits and a subtle nutty note. There is a supple, appealing texture and very impressive length plus fine acidity with everything impeccably balanced before a lingering finish. This will be even better in 12 months and then drink beautifully for another 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.
