Cape Barren Rare Bird McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
- 96
- $150
- Drink by: 2026-2046
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Yet another cracking wine from the brilliant 2021 vintage for the McLaren Vale region, fermentation was in a mix of tanks and both new and older oak barrels. Maturation was for two years in a mix combination of French and American oak hogsheads, both new and older. The vineyard was in excess of 35 years of age. A contender for the heavy bottle Olympics, the wine is under Diam. Black/maroon with a dark purple rim, there is well integrated oak immediately apparent, along with aromas of blueberries, chocolate, vanilla, plums, cloves and soy. There is a hint of toastiness from the oak which works well with the fruit flavours. The wine is ripe, compelling and persistent, and it should easily provide pleasure for the next two decades.
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.
