Incygnes Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020
- 92+
- $45
- Drink by: 2023-2033
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Fascinating to see a pair of wines where the only difference is the vintage which gives real insight. And that is what we have here. A barrel sample, sure, but there is more than sufficient here to read the tea leaves, if one may mix beverage clichés. From the estate’s Green’s Vineyard in the Vine Vale sub-region, which is home to vines of varying ages on a mix of soil types, this is an inky dark maroon hue. Powerful, even on the nose the impression is of a wine which is seriously concentrated and slightly burly. Very much muscular in style, we have soy, aniseed, black fruits and leather. It’s a ‘no prisoners’ style of wine, richly flavoured with power and punch also on the palate and we see more traditional notes of chocolate, mocha and coffee beans emerging over a very long finish. This very much reflects the 2020 vintage with its intensity and power.
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.
