Arila Gardens Single Vineyard Shiraz 2024
- 96
- $150
- Drink by: 2026-2046
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This really is a bit special. From the Arila Gardens vineyard, the team include a small percentage of whole bunches at the base of the fermenter, while the rest are whole berries. Fermentation is over eight to ten days, followed by sixteen months maturation in French oak hogsheads, 20% of which are new. Deep maroon with a purple rim, on the nose we have notes of plums, dried herbs, blackberries, charcuterie, coffee beans, chocolate and cassis. There is exceptional oak integration throughout, and the structure is seamless yet concentrated. A wine of great length, though to powdery tannins, this is special stuff. It will surely provide pleasure over the next twenty years, and over that time, the score could possibly go even higher.
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.
