Oliver’s Taranga RW Grenache 2021
- 95
- $75
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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For me, the emergence of Australian Grenache is the most exciting trend in wine today – not just here in Australia, but around the globe. McLaren Vale is not the only region offering brilliant examples, but it is responsible for many of the very best. This is another contender – absolutely love it. What makes this even more exciting, serendipitous even, is that this rise of Grenache has now coincided with one of the region’s truly great vintages, 2021. This is the second release of the RW, named for Corrina’s great-grandfather, Robert William Oliver. An appealing crimson in colour, there are notes of florals, spices, raspberries, redcurrants, a whiff of vanilla and warm earth on the nose. A mid-weight, elegant style with great finesse and the silkiest of tannins leaving the wine seamless and lingering. This has at least ten years ahead of it and one can reasonably expect the score to increase over that time.
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.
