O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Shiraz 2022
- 95
- $35
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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The fruit here is sourced from two of the most exciting sub-regions in the Clare Valley, Armagh and the Polish Hill River. Fermentation of each is kept separate and the wine then sees time on skins. Pressed to tank and then racked to French oak barrels, 25% of which were new. The colour is an appealing cherry red/purple. The nose is intense with notes of chocolate, cloves, black olives, bergamot, coffee beans, blackberries and cold tea. The wine offers good focus, serious concentration and fine balance, finishing with silky tannins. Great length here and this is a wine destined to give pleasure for at least the next ten to fifteen years. Absolutely cracking value. A case in the cellar now will make you look like a genius in a decade.
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.
