Settler’s Rise Terroirs of the Granite Belt Aged Reserve Chardonnay 2010
- 92
- $59
- Drink by: 2024-2025
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From one of the more respected small wineries on Queensland’s Granite Belt, these aged wines were crafted by Peter Scudamore Smith MW. It is not often one gets the chance to pick up a wine of this age, especially a white, direct from the winery and at such a reasonable price. The fruit is 80% from Cottonvale and 20% from Ballandean. The style is a little old fashioned and it is a valid argument that perhaps releasing the wine a few years earlier might have been wise, but many will find it fascinating. A deep pineapple gold colour, this is ripe and rich, with nutty and honeyed notes. Cashews and caramel, opulence rather than elegance. Supple, mature and of mid length, this is certainly a drink now proposition.
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.
