D’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2021
- $22
- Drink by: 2024-2034
Share
Surely one of Australia’s most recognisable wines, the team use five tonne headed down open fermenters in order to look after the wine in small batches. Basket pressing to a mix of new and older French oak barriques follows, with the barrel ferments ageing on lees. Shiraz dominates the blend but the grapes intertwine superbly. An earthy and even slightly rustic style here, no doubt it will be as instantly popular as previous vintages. Burly and full of flavour, there are notes of cherries and chocolate, with blackfruits, game, soy and licorice. The wine is of decent length and exhibits plenty of tannins. This will offer pleasure for at least a decade.
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.
