Pertaringa Belonging to the Hills Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021
- 95
- $80
- Drink by: 2023-2043
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The ‘Belonging to the Hills’ collection from Pertaringa/Bec Hardy reflects the meaning of ‘Pertaringa’ in the local Kaurna language, which is, as you’ve no doubt guessed, ‘belonging to the hills’. They are a seriously impressive trio and lovers of good reds will adore them all. With this Reserve, small batch open fermenters were used, before 18 months maturation in a mix of new and older French oak. Deep magenta. A rich nose, one can envisage smelling handfuls of warm earth from the region in this wine. Tobacco leaves, dark berries, licorice, leather. Good complexity and concentration, and the palate does take a step up. This is intense but so well balanced that it is almost deceptively lighter in appearance. Good line of acidity, this is obviously a finely crafted McLaren Vale Shiraz showing satiny tannins and superb length. Drink for 12 to 20 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.
