Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz 2022
- 97
- $350
- Drink by: 2026-2056
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An iconic Barossa Valley Shiraz from an excellent vintage, maturation is in French oak for around a year and a half, approximately half of that oak new. The fruit is sourced from what the team term the ‘Old Vine Trio’ of vineyards, planted back in 1993, and they focus on the very oldest vines. The wine also enjoys what might be termed a less traditional label. Under cork. Blood red/maroon with a dark purple rim, this is a quintessential big, bold Barossa Shiraz. You will either absolutely adore it, or it may not be for you. I suspect most people will fall into the former category, bewitched by its plushness and the gorgeous nose, which reveals notes of black fruits, cassis, mocha, dried herbs, blackberries, axle grease, licorice and chocolate with excellent oak integration. The structure is seamless and yet intense, while juicy throughout. There is excellent length, balance and focus. Love it. A thirty-year proposition.
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.
