Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay 2022
- 94
- $95
- Drink by: 2024-2032
Share
This is the team’s prestige Chardonnay. Being Margaret River, that means much is expected. And much delivered. Their best fruit is whole bunch pressed to tank for settling and then to new French oak barriques for a wild ferment. After further maturation, the best barrels are selected for blending, making only 1,845 bottles. A deep gold hue, this is a classy effort which is exhibiting excellent oak integration. There is early complexity already evident with notes of cashews, orange rind, stonefruits, spices and ginger, with a hint of lime-y acidity. Supple texture, impressive length, the wine is seamless with good intensity. A cracking Margaret River Chardy. 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.
