Montsable Chardonnay 2021
- 90
- $29
- Drink by: 2024-2026
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The grapes here hail from the Haute Vallée of Limoux, which are some of the cooler vineyards in the region. Skin contact, maceration, the separation of free run juice from pressings and a temperature-controlled fermentation, with 20% of the wine spending three months in French oak to increase texture and complexity. Yellow straw in colour, this is a soft, fresh, bright and energetic style of Chardonnay, which should prove to be a crowd-pleaser. Notes of melons and citrus, with even a hint of mango emerging on the palate. And yet it remains all rather refined. The wine is of medium length with a flick of acidity making for a thoroughly enjoyable Chardy for drinking over the next couple of 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.
