Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2023
- 93
- $75
- Drink by: 2025-2040
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A cooler climate Coonawarra Shiraz, maturation was for a year in French oak hogsheads, 26% new and 39% one-year-old. An opaque purple hue, there are vestiges of oak still in evidence, but it is early days and full integration should take place within a year or two. There are notes of Kirsch, aniseed, mint, herbs, cloves, chocolate, bay leaves, a touch of delicatessen meats, woodsmoke, plums and blackberries. Ripe flavours abound throughout this wine, with juicy acidity, balance, focus and medium length. A fine Bin 128 which will drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.
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.
