Haselgrove Catkin Shiraz 2019
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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In days gone by, Celts believed that the Hazel tree had special powers (drink enough of this impressive wine and you might too). The name alludes to that. Sourced from four parcels around McLaren Vale, the grapes were destemmed into open fermenters as whole berries. Plunged thrice daily for 12 days before pressed into a mix of new and older oak for maturation for 20 months. The result is one of the better wines in the Haselgrove line-up. Maroon in colour, there are notes of chocolate, coffee beans, black olives and black fruits. Good concentration here, with a seamless and supple texture, finely crafted tannins and bright acidity. Everything is in balance and with excellent length, this is a wine with a decade of pleasure ahead of it. Good stuff.
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.
