Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa 2025
- 94
- $88
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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Friends in the West tell me that the final outcome of the 2025 vintage in Margaret River may rival the legendary 2023. Even to be spoken of in those terms suggests that this is another exceptional year. This wine is very much Sauvignon Blanc dominant, 90%, with the remaining 10% Semillon, all sourced from the Ribbon Vale Vineyard. Halfway through fermentation the wine was transferred into French oak barriques, 11% new. Maturation was for a further nine months. The colour is a deep straw/gold with flecks of green. The nose offers an intriguing array of aromas including stone fruits, nettles, citrus and peaches. There is a gorgeous texture here, perhaps the highlight of the wine, with balance, impressive length and persistence, all the while maintaining its intensity. A juicy style, this will drink impressively over the next decade.
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.
