Pirramimma Katunga McLaren Vale Chardonnay 2020
- 90
- $35
- Drink by: 2026-2029
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McLaren Vale Chardonnay is a rather curious beast. Obviously, we’re not likely to encounter the finesse and elegance that we might with a high altitude, cooler climate region, but the wine doesn’t try to be something it is not. These are wines that are full of flavour and have very often proved to be crowd pleasers. Indeed, those who seek that old fashioned buttery style are probably best looking in this region. The wine spent time in both American and French oak for maturation. A deep straw/yellow hue, this is a very big and bold, full flavoured style. The flavour is very much upfront, and it is indeed a wine that falls within that buttery spectrum. There are notes of stone fruits, nuts, peaches and apricots here with a gentle flick of acidity. A wine of medium length with a significant contribution from the oak. Drink it over the next two or three 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.
