Brand & Sons Fire and Ice Shiraz 2018
- 95
- $26
- Drink by: 2021 - 2029
Share
I was expecting Game of Thrones references here – perhaps the perfect wine to enjoy while watching Ned Stark’s head roll across the mud? Sadly, the name is far more prosaic. It refers to the dangers of frosts and the fight against them. No matter. I’m yet to encounter a wine where the name makes it taste better. This is a very dark purple. Near black. Real concentration and excellent balance throughout. Some early complexity is emerging. Not hard to see why it was originally shiraz and not cabernet which set Coonawarra on the path to greatness. Smoky blueberry notes, sweet blackberries. Really impressive length, fine tannins and good acidity. This will easily improve for a decade. Cracking wine. Better than any Arbor wine I would venture to say, even if Cersei would lock me away for such sacrilege.
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.
