Ballandean Durif 2018
- 91
- $42
- Drink by: 2021-2036
Share
The colour here is an intense black/purple, bruised plum. Appropriate as the flavours are all black fruits and plums. There is chocolate, blackberries, espresso, bergamot, coffee grinds and old leather – this is a powerful and rich nose. The palate offers excellent grip, lots of reasonably firm tannins, leading to a firm, lengthy finish with real concentration here. This is a wine with many years ahead of it but for those who like a big, flavoursome red with a good steak, this would be ideal right now.
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.
