Southern Light Vineyards Healesville ‘Lightfall Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2024
- 94
- $90
- Drink by: 2026-2034
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The Lightfall Vineyard which provided the fruit for this Chardonnay is located at Healesville in the Yarra Valley. The vines were planted in 1984, all clone P58. The vineyard was harvested across two picks, a week apart. After whole bunch pressing to French oak barrels, a mix of 300- and 500-litres, one-quarter of them new, the juice underwent a wild yeast ferment and then spent a year maturing on lees. There was no malolactic fermentation. Straw/yellow in colour, this is taut, tight and poised. The nose reveals notes of lemon curd, a flick of spicy oak, florals, stonefruits, lemongrass and spices. There is good intensity here which continues for the full length. A flick of spicy oak is evident along with juicy acidity. A well balanced wine which will offer immense pleasure over the next six to eight 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.
