Richard Hamilton Smuggler GSM 2023
- 92
- $35
- Drink by: 2026-2034
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From the Estate’s Farm Block in McLaren Vale, this has a maroon core with a dark crimson rim. On the nose we have notes of plums, chocolate, smoked meats, mushrooms, leaf litter, beef stock, cloves and dark cherries. Exhibiting a seductive texture, we see dark fruits coming to the fore on the palate. This is richly flavoured and we even encounter a touch of vegemite. Very good length through to quite velvety tannins, this should drink impressively over the next six to eight 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.
