Pike & Joyce Sirocco Chardonnay 2024
- 93
- $35
- Drink by: 2025-2030
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Fermentation here was with native yeasts in French oak. A tiny amount was allowed to undergo malo, to add to the complexity of the wine, while maturation was for eight months in a mix of new and older French oak. A green gold hue, the perfumes on offer are simply compelling. Certainly a touch of oak still evident, but it is early days and one can reasonably expect further integration. This is a quality Chardy with notes of cashews, cinnamon, stone fruits, peaches, orange rinds and apricot kernels. A mid weight wine of medium length with good focus and crunchy acidity. Enjoy this over the next three to five 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.
