Neldner Road Shiraz 2021
- 95
- $100
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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Dave Powell’s new label can be expected to provide some stellar wines, and no one will be disappointed with this thrilling Barossa Shiraz. Coming from a great vintage for the region no doubt helps. Under cork. The colour here is an inky black maroon with dark magenta on the rim. The immediate impression is of a gorgeous but typically Barossa nose, supported by just the merest flick of oak – look hard or you’ll miss it, so deftly has it been handled. The nose exhibits notes of mocha, cassis, a hint of vanilla, beef stock, coffee beans, blackberries, licorice and plums. There is excellent balance throughout, and the silkiest of tannins with very good length, and a lingering finish. This will drink beautifully for a good decade, likely more. Hardly everyday drinking but there are a lot of wines, from here and elsewhere, at this price and higher which do not come close.
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.
