Dandelion Vineyards Firehawk of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022
- 94
- $60
- Drink by: 2024-2039
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The fruit here hails from a single vineyard which overlooks Willunga in McLaren Vale, which the team believe provides their best Shiraz. The Firehawk is a native bird of prey which has proved invaluable to the local winemakers as they eat rabbits and help scare away birds which like the grapes. Two weeks fermentation before basket pressing into French barriques for a year and a half maturing, with one-third of the barriques new. Dark maroon colour, the nose has some earthy notes, cloves, dark berries, leather, tar, tobacco leaves, coffee grinds and chocolate. A savoury style, it offers generosity with a soft and slightly creamy texture. The palate sees the emergence of cassis, espresso notes and more black fruits. Soft tannins with a very long finish, this is impressive stuff. Expect it to provide pleasure for at least the next twelve to fifteen years.
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.
