Greenock Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache 2018
- 96
- $175
- Drink by: 2023-2035
Share
From venerable old vines, 100 years in age, in the Barossa, the grapes are destalked and placed ‘uncrushed’ in stainless steel open fermenters. Hand plunging and eventual basket pressing, before a further twenty days maceration on skins and then two years in a mix of French and American oak. Near opaque maroon, we have beguiling notes of chocolate and mocha, licorice, cloves, tobacco leaves and blackberries with a hint of vanilla and toast from the oak. Powerful and bold, this is a lovely rich and ripe style with a seductive texture. Fine yet slightly firm tannins and very good length too. Some may be put off by the 16.5% alcohol, but the richness and fruit more than match it. Richly flavoured, this will provide a great deal of pleasure over the next eight to twelve 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.
