Allegiance Wines The Artisan Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- 94
- $65
- Drink by: 2025-2037
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The fruit has been harvested from a single vineyard in the northern part of Coonawarra. The wine saw an intriguing mix of oak, for a period of a year and a half. 92% hogsheads and the remaining 8% barriques, 29% was second fill and 57% third fill, while the remaining 14% was older French oak. It works. Opaque magenta, the nose sees immediate notes of chocolate to the fore. This is supported by hints of licorice and mint. There is good intensity throughout and, over the journey, we see the emergence of cassis, blackberries, coffee beans and bay leaves. There is focus, balance and a good future here. Enjoy it for at least the next ten to twelve years. Lots to like here.
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.
