Hastwell & Lightfoot Sands of Time Shiraz 2020
- 92
- $40
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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A fine McLaren Vale Shiraz with great promise for the future but also providing pleasure at the moment. This is the team’s prestige Shiraz from a single vineyard in the region. The vineyard is on sandy slopes not far from the ocean. Just 250 cases made. Deep garnet in colour, the nose opens with appealing red fruit notes. There are warm earth tones, cherries, bay leaves and leather. The palate is soft and gentle, with juicy acidity, sleek tannins, good acidity, focus and length. Lots to like here but every indication is that this will get better and better over the next six to eight 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.
