Red Hut Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2024
- 93
- $28
- Drink by: 2025-2031
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The Hawkes Bay region in the North Island of New Zealand has proved to be an excellent source of quality Chardonnay. This example is specifically from the sub-district of Roy’s Hill. The grapes were whole bunch pressed into French oak barriques, 35% of which were new. Maturation continued in the barrel for eleven months with regular lees stirring. Straw/yellow in colour, the nose reveals tropical notes with stone fruits, cashews, gunflint, spices, dried herbs, peaches and a flick of grapefruit. This is finely crafted and well-structured, with a line of zesty acidity and serious persistence. Enjoy this any time over the next five to six 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.
