Allinda Yarra Valley Limited Release Syrah 2018
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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Quite amazing to see a wine with almost a decade under its belt from a top vintage in a great region at this price. Not only that, it has plenty of bling in the trophy cupboard. Around 1/5th of the grapes were fermented as whole bunches and the wine spent the best part of a year maturing in older oak barriques, a mix of French and American. Deep maroon with a dark red rim, there is a complex and alluring nose here. The wine has maturity, but there are still bags of life and energy. We have lifted aromas of leather, chocolate, black fruits, aniseed, animal skins and dried herbs. The wine has impressive length, a seamless structure and fine balance, with slightly chalky tannins and a line of juicy acidity. Notwithstanding the age it is already accrued, it is drinking beautifully now and should continue to do so for at least 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.
