Bec Hardy Pertaringa Over the Top Shiraz 2022
- 93
- $45
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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The vines here were planted in 1960, in a vineyard next to the very first one planted by Thomas Hardy in McLaren Vale. Three tonne fermenters used with the fruit sitting on skins for nine days. The wine then spent fifteen months in a mix of new and aged French oak puncheons and hogsheads. Deep and dark hue, this is an energetic style, overflowing with attractive freshness. In the glass, a combination of chocolate, dark berries, cherries, florals, dry herbs, and coffee beans. Sleek and supple texture, there is a hint of espresso bitterness on the very finish. Silky tannins are carried by impressive length and excellent balance. This has a most promising future over the next decade and the score should rise during that time.
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.
