Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2022
- 95
- $50
Share
The 2021 vintage of this wine was a cracker, but I think that this latest incarnation is even better, a superb Chardonnay. The fruit for the Estate Chardy usually hails from their Farrago and Faultline blocks with fermentation in barrel, the wine then sees around another year maturing in those barrels. Pale lemon colour, the nose is a stunner with gently grilled cashews, figs, lemongrass, peaches and stonefruit. An immaculately balanced wine, the palate sees the emergence of orange rind notes, apricot kernels and mandarins. There is good focus, a bold intensity and very good length. And yet, through all this, the wine maintains its elegance. If the Estate release from this vintage is this good, can’t wait to see the single block wines.
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.
