Robert Oatley Finisterre McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017
- 94
- $45
- Drink by: 2026 - 2031
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This wine is from the ‘Hancock La Colline’ vineyard in the Chalk Hill sib-region of McLaren Vale. Hand harvested, two to three weeks post fermentation maceration and then 12 months in a mix of new, one and two-year-old French barriques. 2,982 bottles.
Dark red in colour. Deep earthy notes, chocolate, hints of coffee grinds, plums, animal skins. A wine with depth and power. Put it away for five years. Soft tannins, serious length and juicy acidity. This has room to improve, and will, but drinking it now is not the crime of the century.
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.
