Clandestine Vineyards Shiraz 2020
- 94
- $30
- Drink by: 2022 - 2028
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A cracking Shiraz from a region proving ideal for it. This hails from a single vineyard, the Hayview Vineyard, in Mt Barker, loam over ironstone, which was planted in 2001. The grapes undergo a seven day ferment on skins in open fermenters, with hand plunging twice daily. It is then pressed and racked into older oak on lees. Ten months maturation. 4,800 bottles. Near black with purple rims, this is plush in style. Chocolate, coffee beans, cassis, dark berries, some dried herbs and a note of cold tea. Good complexity even at this early stage. Lots of grip here, with firm tannins, and excellent length. Lots more chocolate emerged on the palate. A wine with an exciting future.
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.
