Lone Palm Crossings Shiraz 2020
- 93
- $60
- Drink by: 2022-2030
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Lone Palm celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, quite an achievement in what can be a notoriously fickle industry. Always helps if you have quality vineyards, fruit and talented winemakers. They are located at the southern end of Marananga on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley. There is a solitary old palm tree next to the ancient cottage – the same palms as found at Seppeltsfield, hence the name.
The hand-picked fruit comes from the front roadside block of the vineyard, before it is basket-pressed into a mix of mostly older French and American oak for 14 months. An inky dark maroon in colour, it offers an attractive and very pleasing nose with black fruits, warm earth, cigar box notes and florals. A seamless palate where the flavours move long the spectrum to more mocha, licorice, chocolate and coffee bean. The finish lingers beautifully. With good acidity and very good length, this has 7 to 8 years ahead of it. Lots to like here.
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.
