Byron and Harold The Partners Shiraz 2020
- 94
- $60
- Drink by: 2022-2034
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If this did not get quite the love of its predecessors, it is simply because it is a younger wine still coming into its own. Everything is in place for this to at least equal its older siblings. Machine harvesting and sorting, the fermentation proceeded with a considerable proportion of whole berries. After wild yeast ferments and twice daily pumpovers, it was gently pressed to barrel for malo and then maturation.
Purple/black in colour, this is ripe and deliciously soft, with an appealing texture – beautifully exuberant. Notes of cassis, leather, mulberries and truffles. Good length is notable with juicy acidity carrying the wine through to silky tannins. This has great potential – expect fireworks over the next eight to twelve years. The team suggested a shorter period but I think they are underselling themselves.
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.
