Paracombe Shiraz 2019
- 94
- $27
- Drink by: 2026-2041
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Fabulous to see wines of this age released, saving the consumer the worry and effort of doing the cellaring themselves. Now consider the price of this wine and the fact that it is several years older than the current release of Grange and we just may have a serious contender for the best value wine of the year (which is not to suggest that it is on a par with Grange, but you can choose one bottle of Grange or three dozen of this). From a range of vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, 1,606 cases produced. The wine spent twenty months in French oak. Dark maroon with a magenta rim, the nose exhibits aromas weaving through dry herbs, tobacco leaves, warm earth, blackberries, aniseed, chocolate and plums – just what one is looking for with a cooler climate Shiraz. Of medium weight, we see the emergence of notes of smoked meats on the palate. Finally balanced throughout, there is very good length here through to sleek tannins. It should provide pleasure over the next twelve to fifteen years, although it is already most attractive.
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.
