Allegiance Wines The Tiger McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023
- 94
- $30
- Drink by: 2024-2036
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Fruit here is from a single vineyard located towards the southern end of McLaren Vale. After fermentation, the wine spent seven days on skins before malolactic fermentation, and then ten months in French oak, 15% new. An appealing near opaque maroon hue, the nose exhibits notes of earth, licorice and molten chocolate. There are blackcurrants and coal dust, but it remains chocolate dominant with even a hint of orange rind. Big, bold and expressive, this is balanced, fresh, offers direction and has excellent length. Fine and rather satiny tannins, this is a cracker and will drink beautifully over the next ten to twelve 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.
