Allegiance Wines Unity McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023
- 93
- $120
- Drink by: 2025-2035
Share
The fruit for this rather exciting McLaren Vale Shiraz come from the Willunga sub-region, a single vineyard planted back in the mid-1990s. Maturation was for a year and a half in 300-litre French barrels, 20% new. It is very much early days for this wine at the moment and with time, both it and the score should improve even further. A dark magenta, the nose exhibits notes of dry herbs, chocolate, black fruits, blackcurrants, licorice, game and roast meats. The wine has a fine balance and there is good intensity which runs the full journey. Bright acidity and excellent length combine to complete the package. Real promise here and while it will be better in two to four years, it should then drink beautifully for another decade.
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.
