D’Arenberg The Feral Fox Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills 2023
- 91
- $34
- Drink by: 2025-2030
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Local foxes have apparently developed a liking for Chester Osborn’s prized Pinot Noir grapes and so he gave them a spot on the label. Not sure he’d be quite so keen to give them his grapes. Around 15% of whole bunches are incorporated in the fermentation and maturation is in older French oak barriques. Pale crimson/red in colour, spices, herbs, leaf litter, red fruits, cherries, smoked meats and raspberries are all found on the nose. The wine is of medium length, though it does fade a smidge quicker than one might wish. Hopefully time will rectify that. It is a thoroughly attractive Pinot, a little simple at this stage but most enjoyable. Drink over the next three to five 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.
