Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz 2024
- 96
- $96
- Drink by: 2026-2056
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This is a bit special. Fully destemmed Shiraz from the Seppeltsfield Vineyard, fermentation was in French oak, 60% of it new. The wine then spent a further twenty-two months in oak for maturation. Opaque maroon, right to the very edge. This is a big, bold, powerful style of Barossa Valley Shiraz. Indeed, one might even call it ‘quintessential’, if they hadn’t used that name already. On the nose, there are rich notes of chocolate, cassis, cloves, blackberries, coffee beans, root vegetables, licorice and tobacco leaves. Even a flicker of blueberries. A force of nature, there is excellent length here through to ever-so-silky tannins and we see more and more coffee bean notes emerging towards the finish. Enjoy over the next twenty to thirty 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.
