Bleasdale Generations Shiraz 2019
- 94
- $35
- Drink by: 2023 - 2035
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A familiar favourite from Langhorne Creek. Destemmed into open fermenters with 15% whole berries and then fermentation at 30°C with regular pumping over, up to four times a day, before drying and then pressed to dryness after 8 to 12 days on skins. Then a year in a mix of new (22%) and older French oak puncheons. This is an opaque red/purple. A really lovely nose with notes of blackberries, plums, cloves, tobacco leaf, axle grease (in the most positive sense), black olives and much more. There is already some complexity showing. Richness is ever present and the texture is seamless. Subtle, even exhibiting a touch of finesse, and with great length, with the intensity maintained throughout. This is a cracker. A joy now, but will go a good ten to fifteen years.
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.
