Pirramimma The Earl Shiraz 2021
- 97
- $150
- Drink by: 2025-2045
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Another example of the superb 2021 vintage, for this, the team’s flagship red. The name comes from 1633, when Charles 1st brought Lord James Johnston forth as Earl of Hartfell. He was later promoted to Earl of Annandale, though why that is a superior position is something you’ll have to enquire of a historian (or perhaps the good folk of Annandale) for the answer. The wine is indeed fit for royalty (are Earls royalty or just aristocracy?). An opaque maroon, there is still a fair amount of oak evident here, however in the process of integration and all is going very well. There are notes of cassis, mocha, vanilla, black fruits, chocolate, coffee beans, bay leaves and black cherries – even slight hints of animal flesh, adding to its complexity. Seamless and supple, the wine has a gorgeous creamy texture. This is a classic McLaren Vale Shiraz and a really good one, with silky tannins and great length to round things out. Fifteen to twenty years if you have the patience.
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.
