Dowie Doole Reserve Shiraz 2022
- 97
- $150
- Drink by: 2026-2046
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A cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Tatachilla sub-region, the vineyard was originally planted in 1974. Known as the California Road Vineyard, the fruit spends time maturing in French oak puncheons and hogsheads, around half new. For me, this is possibly the best one I’ve seen from this producer. Dark maroon with a magenta rim, the nose reveals aromas of mulberries, plums, blackberries, aniseed and truffles. There is beautifully handled oak here and with time in the glass we see the emergence of spicy notes as well as hints of vanilla and smoked meats. What one might think of as a seriously good nose. The wine is seamless, well-structured and very long, finishing with silky tannins. On the palate, we see chocolate, cold tea, coffee beans and blackcurrants. The wine is finely balanced and should provide pleasure for at least another twenty 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.
