Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay 2024
- 97
- $48
- Drink by: 2026-2038
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This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series sits, at least in theory, below their prestige range known as ‘864’. To be honest, particularly with this Chardonnay, I think they might have a little trouble as it is very hard to imagine that even any of their wonderful 864 Chardonnays will be able to top this wine. This is an absolute cracker and while it may not be priced for daily drinking, it is ridiculously undervalued. For this money, good luck finding anything in Burgundy which comes within cooee. The Hazeldene Vineyard is in the Gladysdale sub-region. The wine was made by whole bunch pressing directly into 500-litre French oak puncheons, with a natural fermentation, and then fourteen months maturation. A shimmering pale lemon hue, the complexity and quality in this wine is immediately evident. The nose reveals notes of hazelnuts, stone fruits, citrus, grilled cashews, peaches, nectarines, melon and a touch of jasmine. The wine of exquisite balance, finesse and power, there is extraordinary length here. The intensity is maintained for the entire journey. A brilliant Chardonnay which will easily handle the next twelve years. Wow!
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.
