Crate McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
- 90
- $10
- Drink by: 2022-2028
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Another in the Crate series, offering terrific value and simple, delicious drinking, and my favourite of the range. After crushing and destemming into tank, a ten day fermentation with regular pumping over before twelve months in oak. This is a near opaque purple. A rich, bold, deep chocolate with earthy notes – classic McLaren Vale. Mocha, coffee grinds and a mix of dark and red berries. It has good force through to a soft finish and decent length. Full of flavour, there is no reason this can’t be enjoyed any time over the next half dozen years. Simple and enjoyable – what more do you need?
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.
