Alex Head Heart and Home Shiraz 2023
- 94
- $25
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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Fruit for this Shiraz, which also includes 9% Grenache, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Mataro, comes from some of the most famous sub-regions in the Barossa – Bethany, Greenock, Nuriootpa and Krondorf. Fermentation was with native yeasts and was followed by maturation for seventeen months on fine lees in older French oak, a mix of sizes between 300, 500 and 600 litres. Deep blood red with a russet rim, the aromatics are typically Barossa Valley and are thoroughly enjoyable. Blackberries, chocolate, cassis, cocoa powder, aniseed, animal flesh, dried herbs and mocha. Bold, ripe and seamless with a sleek texture to the velvety tannins, the wine has excellent length and is at least a ten year 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.
