Lou Miranda Estate 1917 Centenarian Old Vine Grenache 2023
- 94
- $75
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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There has been a veritable influx of cracking older vine Grenache from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in recent years. This is a very fine example of the style. Dry grown vines, in excess of one hundred years (as the ‘1917’ reference on the label would indicate), from their Barossa Valley Church Block, which is just 0.14 hectares. This is a bit exciting. Production is limited to just 800 bottles with the wine spending six months maturing in older American oak. Pale crimson in colour, we have aromas of red cherries, cranberries and strawberries here. Florals, red apples and spices, including just a slight whiff of pepper. A very fine, alluring and complex style with excellent balance, good freshness and bright acidity. A wine of grace and length. This will drink superbly for at least the next six to ten years, likely more.
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.
