D’Arenberg The Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2021
- 94
- $32
- Drink by: 20252035
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As with all wines from here, they have been endowed with weird and wonderful names, the details of which are all available on the website. Not many wineries would be game to call their wine Derelict. No such issues here. This is from the wonderful 2021 vintage in McLaren Vale, with fermentation completed in old French oak, followed by time on lees. Crimson red with hints of a blue haze, the wine offers a lovely ripeness with notes of strawberries, raspberries, milk chocolate, a hint of tar and some attractive kirsch touches. There is good focus here, length and fine silky tannins on the finish, which lingers well. Love it. Eight to ten 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.
