Head The Brunette Eden Valley Shiraz 2024
- 95
- $75
- Drink by: 2026-2046
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Alex Head’s Brunette Shiraz hails from the Eden Valley, specifically a two-acre block from the ‘Fechner Old’ Block Vineyard, which was planted in 1906, near Moculta. The vineyard sits at 320 metres above sea level. Alex uses 20% whole bunches in the fermentation. Maturation is in French oak, 1/3rd new, with the remainder a mix of one and two-year old barrels. As with the Blonde, maturation is for eleven months. 200 dozen made. The colour here is an opaque maroon with a very dark magenta rim. The nose exhibits aromas of warm earth, chocolate, dusty roads, black cherries, smoked meats and blackberries. Quite spicy, there are also hints of florals. There is a sleek and seductive texture and the wine is finely balanced with serious length, finishing with satiny tannins. Excellent length, there is much that excites and the wine should continue to impress for the next 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.
