Longview Macclesfield Chardonnay 2021
- 93
- $45
- Drink by: 2022-2028
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The Macclesfield range of wines has helped to showcase what a superb region the Adelaide Hills is for a number of varieties, not least of which is Chardonnay. And this is a cracker. From an elevated (400m) vineyard which offers a mix of Entav and Mendoza clones, the fruit is whole bunch pressed into a mix of French and Austrian oak puncheons (20% new, 20% second use, 60% third use) for twenty days barrel fermentation. There is then partial malo and then three months lees contact to enhance the complexity, the wine then enjoys a spell of nine months maturation. Just 3,500 bottles made. Pale gleaming yellow in colour, this is beautifully balanced offering fragrant notes of florals, nuts, Myer lemons, ginger and a character like wet river stones. This is all class. Finely focused, there is excellent oak integration and a lingering soft finish. A complete wine – everything in its place. Lovely now and drinking beautifully over the next five 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.
