Geoff Merrill Jacko’s Shiraz McLaren Vale 2017
- 92
- $30
- Drink by: 2024-2032
Share
The wine is named after Michael “Jacko” James, who worked in the cellars until he tragically passed at the early age of 26. It is a nice tribute. The wine spent 28 months in a mix of French and American oak, both new and older. Dark garnet in colour, this is a plush and generous style, full of chocolate. There are notes of spices, bay leaves, vanilla, blackfruits, mulberries and an earthy undertow with depth and concentration, bright acidity and good persistence. Showing good focus and sleek tannins, enjoy this over the next six to eight years. A fine tribute, indeed.
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.
