Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay 2024
- 94
- $100
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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French oak barriques, a portion new, contribute to the overall class and quality of this seriously good Chardonnay from Margaret River. Just 4,900 bottles made. The colour is lemon/straw and there is that flick of oak integration with hints of cashews and nutmeg. We have aromas of stone fruits, grapefruits, mandarins, peaches and florals. Good intensity and impressive balance throughout, but it is the length of the wine which is a real highlight, with that intensity never wavering for a moment. A cracking Chardonnay for enjoying over the next five to ten 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.
