Brokenwood Rayner Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022
- 96
- $110
- Drink by: 2024-2044
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In the Hunter, 2021 and 2022 were both excellent vintages with the more recent year considered the better of the pair. In McLaren Vale, they were also excellent years but here, 2021 took the honours. This was a much loved wine, made between 1993 and 2007, before the team lost access to the grapes. They recently got hold of grapes from the neighbouring block, a younger one but one which also provides superb fruit. This is the result. Maturation was for sixteen months in French oak puncheons, 12% new. Magenta/maroon, the nose gives us notes of leather, olives, black fruits, soy, licorice, roast meats and black olives with savouriness is to the fore. Complex, seamless and supple, the wine has a mouthwatering juicy acidity and such length. Great intensity and a twenty year future. Welcome back!
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.
