Arila Gardens Gardens of Moppa Shiraz 2020
- 96
- $40
- Drink by: 2025 - 2032
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The colour here is a near opaque purple. The nose suggests that the wine is not as immediately generous as the GSM, more brooding and coiled, but that does not mean that there is not plenty to love. There is at least as much power and intensity here, perhaps a touch more. The flavours weave through black fruits, hints of game, dark chocolate, cloves and succulent blackberries. The wine is seamless and superbly balanced, with firm tannins and very good grip. This is a beautifully crafted, first class, young Barossa Shiraz with impressive length. It needs five to ten years to really do it justice but there is, despite its brooding nature, enough plushness to ensure that you will not be disappointed opening it now. But there is more to come for those who are patient.
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.
