Gundog Estate Rare Game Shiraz 2021
- 94
- $85
- Drink by: 2022-2037
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The flagship of the Gundog range and Matt’s tribute to those incredible old ‘Hunter Burgundies’ such as the 1965 Lindeman’s, wines to drink on bended knee. Indeed, the fruit hails from the Tinkler’s ’48 Block’ which was previously part of the old Lindeman’s Ben Ean vineyard. The vines are low-yielding and there is further careful berry selection by the team. Maturation is for 16 months in French oak puncheons, with 25% of them new. This is a red unashamedly designed for the long haul. If your intention is to crack a top Hunter red today, stick with the Gundog Hunter’s Shiraz and leave this in the cellar for another decade, but please make sure you do have some squirreled away. Deep garnet in colour, we have aromas of smoked meats, tobacco leaves, charcuterie, florals, cranberries and handfuls of warm earth. Youthful certainly, but it is already exhibiting some complexity plus good acidity and length, with very fine tannins. A very long future but leaving it for at least three to four years and then drinking over the next ten to fifteen should be the plan. The score will surely rise with time.
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.
