Port Phillip Estate Balnarring Chardonnay 2025
- 95
- $44
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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The Balnarring Vineyard enjoys considerable maritime influence from the Western Port Bay. The Vineyard was established in 1997 and the estate acquired it in 2007. The Vineyard has three Chardonnay blocks in it and the fruit here is sourced largely from the oldest block. The fruit is whole bunch pressed into French barriques and puncheons, 20% of which were new. Fermentation took place over the following sixteen days and there was also a partial malolactic fermentation. Maturation was on lees for eleven months. Very pale lemon in colour, this is tight, taut, pristine and balanced. There is evidence of early complexity, and we see hints of very gentle cashewy oak, along with notes of lemon, soft spices and grapefruit pith. A seriously impressive nose, the wine has excellent balance. Seamless with exceptional length and good intensity throughout, there is a touch of gunflint on the palate. A really good Chardonnay that will provide pleasure for ten years, this is cracking value.
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.
