Dandelion Vineyards Midnight Rainbow of McLaren Vale Petite Sirah 2021
- 93
- $120
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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A guess but this might be the most expensive Petit Sirah (or Syrah) made in this country. That would put some heavy expectation on it. The team describe Midnight Rainbow as their most mysterious McLaren Vale vineyard. That begs two questions. They have mysterious vineyards outside McLaren Vale? And what on earth makes a vineyard mysterious? That one might be above my pay grade. The fruit is apparently from their Firehawk Farm in McLaren Vale. The wine is made in accordance with biodynamic principles. Less mysteriously, the team gently crush the fruit into open top fermenters for ten days’ fermentation, before basket pressing into French oak barrels for a year and a half’s maturation. One-third of the barrels were new. A most fascinating nose, with hints of delicatessen meats, cold tea, chocolate, leather and smoked notes. Good concentration and power. The palate sees more cocoa powder and coffee grinds. A burly style of medium length with fine tannins. This has a good ten years in it. An impressive Petit Sirah, living up to those expectations.
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.
