Bethany First Village GSM 2023
- 93
- $29
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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The various parcels here, in this famous blend, were kept separate for fermentation, which was with whole berries, and a small inclusion of whole bunches for complexity. The wine then spent nine months maturing in older oak with a small portion in stainless steel. The value here is such that this is a must have. The colour is a deep garnet/cerise. The nose gives us notes of black cherries, raspberries, warm earth, tobacco leaves, dark berries and kirsch. An attractive supple texture, really rather creamy, with sleek tannins and very good length before a most persistent finish. This has an exciting future and will continue to improve over the next decade.
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.
