Monterra McLaren Vale Vineyard Select No 1 Shiraz 2018
- 91
- $25
- Drink by: 2021 - 2026
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2018 is a fine vintage for Shiraz in McLaren Vale, as is obvious from this offering, from one of the region’s most respected makers, Mike Farmilo. The colour is a very dark maroon and the nose is immediately and obviously typical McLaren Vale. Plums, chocolate, dark berries, some oak integration and woodsmoke. There is plushness and good acidity with a slippery texture. This is a full-bodied wine which lingers nicely, though the finish does fade a touch right at the end but lots to like before that. Attractive now and any time over the next five to six 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.
