Parched Crow Chardonnay 2023
- 92
- $30
- Drink by: 2025-2029
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Hunter Valley Chardonnay is one of those styles that never seems to make sense, until you actually drink it. Then it inevitably reveals flavours and characters, which makes you wonder just how on earth that happened. And why you don’t drink more of it. Lemon/yellow in hue, the nose here exhibits attractive notes of melon, apricot kernels, cashews, a flick of citrus and hints of pineapple and beeswax. The flavours are even more expressive on the palate. There is a line of fine acidity here, but the wine needs a touch more length to be elite. It will, however, provide drinking pleasure over the next two to four 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.
