Hutton Vale Farm Shiraz 2019
- 95
- $75
- Drink by: 2023-2035
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This winery might have been flying under the radar for some time, but if they keep producing stunning wines like their last releases, that won’t last. They use typical winemaking methods such as open top fermenters, extensive maturation for around a couple of years in a mix of new and aged hogsheads and then further time in the bottle before release. This cracking Shiraz is vibrant magenta in colour, with aromas of a mix of both red and darker berries topped by spices, dry herbs, root vegetables and aniseed plus hints of bay leaves, a little graphite and delicatessen meats. There is good intently on the palate and we start to see more chocolate notes emerging. There is also good intensity, right through the palate, with silky tannins on the finish which shows excellent length. This is a wine with a promising future, a good eight to twelve years at least.
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.
