Monterra Kyella Baker Shiraz 2023
- 92
- $25
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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I’ll confess that I am none the wiser as to what or whom Kyella Baker is, but if this wine is a tribute to a friend of family, they’d be pretty happy. A well-crafted wine which is excellent value. A deep red/maroon hue, quite attractively perfumed, this is redolent of black fruits, aniseed, soy, crushed herbs and blackcurrants. It is slightly meaty on the palate, but has good focus and length, finishing with fine, powdery tannins. It will provide attractive drinking over the next six to eight years.
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.
