Head The Blonde Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024
- 96
- $65
- Drink by: 2026-2046
Share
Recent years have seen a string of absolutely superb wines from Alex Head and perhaps none better than what he has shown us from the very fine 2024 vintage. This stunning Barossa Valley Shiraz is sourced from the ‘Riebke Old’ block, just two acres, which was planted in 1893 in the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa. Maturation is in French oak, 25% of it new, with the remainder a mix of one, two and three-year-old oak. As with all of Alex’s wines, it was fully destemmed. Maturation was for a little under a year. Production is just 200 dozen. A core of dark maroon with a vibrant magenta rim, the nose offers aromas weaving through mocha, black fruits, black cherries, aniseed, dried herbs, plums and delicatessen meats. This is bright and fresh, with excellent concentration and length. It maintains its intensity for the full journey and there is a line of juicy acidity alongside that. So much to love here. This is a wine with a great future and it will certainly drink beautifully for the next fifteen to twenty 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.
