Bec Hardy Syrah 2023
- 92
- $38
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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Can’t you just see all the old timers in McLaren Vale holding up the bar at their local, weeping into their beer. Syrah? What the hell is that? In McLaren Vale? What has the world come to? What is wrong with good old Shiraz? Worked for us for more than a century. Can’t imagine the French at their local bistro ever having that same problem. One can even imagine that there might be suggestions of the original Thomas Hardy spinning in his grave. Still, the world moves on and, in the end, it is what is in the bottle, not on it, that counts. Which is good news for this wine. An inky dark maroon, the nose sings with notes of plums, cloves, licorice, chocolate and dry herbs. There are fine, quite velvety tannins here, and the wine has impressive length. If ever a McLaren Vale Shiraz (or Syrah) could be termed elegant, this would be it. Attractive drinking now and for a good decade, this is well focused with good energy and a lingering finish.
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.
