Hare’s Chase Ironscraper Shiraz 2018
- 92
- $35
- Drink by: 2021 - 2025
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Be honest. How many of you would ever come up with the name, ‘Ironscraper’, for a wine? Certainly not me. Apparently, it has to do with the scrapes made by the hares for them to hide. Not how I remember ‘Watership Down’ at all.
No matter. They tell me that this is their entry level wine. I struggle with that for a couple of reasons. First, because I actually thought it was even better than some of their other wines, supposedly above ‘entry level’, though they were pretty good as well. Secondly, I suspect that there would be plenty of wineries very happy to have this as something other than their ‘entry level’ wine. Put simply, it is too good.
From the Marananga sub-region, there is 5% cabernet combined with the shiraz here. Each parcel of grapes harvested was fermented separately. Twice daily pumpovers and then basket-pressed into a mix of new and seasoned American oak, 300-litre hogsheads from AP John coopers, for an extended 12-month maturation – both free-run and pressings are used.
Dark purple/near blue colour. Black fruits arise from the glass, with some warm earth notes and dry herbs. Lovely ripeness here. This does come from the slightly more rustic end of the spectrum than some, but many of us love that. Florals, blackberries and fungal notes emerge. The palate is actually brighter and fresher, seemingly so, than the nose. Good grip and a mineral undertow. Decent length. This is a really pleasing style and makes a mockery of the concept of ‘entry level’.
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.
