Brand & Sons Old Town Coonawarra Shiraz 2021
- 94
- $85
- Drink by: 2023-2033
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Only 300 dozen made of this fascinating Coonawarra Shiraz. It hails from an unirrigated 1.5 acre block, planted in the early 1950s. Maturation was for 14 months in French oak, 20% new. Vibrant maroon in colour, this is a wine of depth and concentration. There are notes of dry herbs, bay leaves, chocolate, spices and black fruits backed by tightly wound quality oak which is integrating well. The palate exhibits a move to soy and darker chocolate with even a hint of vegemite. There is good focus through to a very fine silky tannins. It will drink well for a decade with ease.
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.
