Brokenwood Verona Vineyard Hunter Valley Shiraz 2019
- 95
- $100
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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The debate over whether the 2019 vintage topped its predecessor in the Hunter is one of those things wine geeks will spend hours mulling over. No matter – both provided us with many stunning reds. This vineyard, planted in 1968, has been in Brokenwood hands for the best part of twenty years. It sits across the road from the famed Graveyard Vineyard. This is the seventh time the fruit has been bottled as a single vineyard wine, deservedly so.
This has a deep magenta hue, and is a beautiful example of how good a Hunter Shiraz can be (too often, this is lost in the plethora of Barossa and McLaren Vale blockbusters). Coffee grinds, red and dark berries, plums, tobacco leaves, this also has a gorgeous, seductive texture. Mid-weight, very good length, fine tannins and a hint of sour cherries on the finish, this has ten years plus ahead of it.
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.
