Basileus Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020
- 93
- $23
- Drink by: 2024-2034
Share
A thoroughly appealing Barossa Shiraz which will provide pleasure for the rest of the decade and a little more. Destemming and then fermentation in small oak fermenters with wild yeasts, before basket pressing to French oak for maturation. A dark maroon hue, the nose weaves through aromatic red fruits, raspberries, a lovely cherries and cream aspect and cranberries, but also blackberries and plums. A most appealing nose. As we move to the palate, rich flavours emerge. There is plenty of oak here, but well integrated, with notes of dark chocolate, leather and mulberries. A good concentrated style, with appealing ripeness, firm tannins and very good length.
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.
