Robert Oatley Finisterre McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017
- 92
- $45
- Drink by: 2020 - 2030
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Spices, a mix of red and dark fruits, dry herbs, a whiff of mocha, warm earth and some coffee bean notes. In other words, a cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz. The palate gives up a lovely supple texture where there is some understated oak, with the wine seeing a year in a mix of new, one year and two year old French barriques, but it is melding slowly and should continue to do so. There is also deceptive length – the wine really does linger and fine tannins too. A good ten years lies ahead of this delicious Shiraz which was made from a 45 year old vineyard in the Chalk Hill sub-region.
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.
