Pirramimma War Horse Shiraz 2017
- 96
- $100
- Drink by: 2024 - 2040
Share
Anchor, Boxer, Baron, Minny, Doctor, Lightning and others. Just some of the old Clydesdales working the vineyards back at the time and for which, among other heroes, this wine is named. It is only the fourth release of it in their 129-year history, although presumably as this history started well before the World Wars, it would have been a bit much to expect it to be made then. No matter.
If one may commence with the bottom line, this is the best wine I have seen from Pirramimma. A cracker, from miniscule yields on low-trellised vines. Colour moving from deep red to maroon with aromas of chocolate and cherries plus black fruits. At this early stage, there is still plenty of high quality oak evident but it is integrating well providing vanillin notes. Also some mulberries emerge on the palate. It is seamless and structured and with such very fine silky tannins. The texture is goose-down soft and the chocolate continues. This really is such a ‘want-more’ wine. Deliciously hedonistic, as one finds with the best McLaren Vale shiraz. Surely twenty years ahead of it.
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.
