Oakridge 864 Close Planted Block Oakridge Vineyard Syrah 2023
- 96
- $96
- Drink by: 2025-2040
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Planting here is at 5,200 plants per hectare. 70% of the grapes were destemmed into an open fermenter on the top of the remaining 30% of whole bunches. Maturation was in French oak puncheons for fourteen months. This is chalk and cheese in comparison with our much loved Barossa and McLaren Vale Shiraz, but it will open some eyes as to just how glorious Shiraz from a cooler climate can be (even if they want to call it Syrah). Purple crimson in colour, the nose offers notes of red apples, florals, warm earth, cherries, leather and aniseed. This is exquisitely crafted. There is grip, but with a sleek and seductive texture and excellent balance throughout. The wine is very long, with satiny, polished tannins, and should provide pleasure for at least the next fifteen years. Stunning stuff.
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.
