Gibson The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023
- 92
- $40
- Drink by: 2026-2032
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This Barossa wine may not be the only Shiraz Montepulciano blend in the world, but it surely must be one of the very few. Maturation was in a mix of French and American oak for a year and a half. The aim here is to experiment with wines and blends which may work for the region as climate change progresses. Garnet with a crimson rim, the nose is a pleasing mix of dark berries, warm earth notes, cloves, soy, aniseed, coffee grinds and mulberries. This is supple yet dense and with powdery but mouthcoating tannins. A wine with good balance and intensity which runs the full length, there is lots to like here and it should provide pleasure for at least the next six 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.
