Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz 2022
- 97
- $199
- Drink by: 2026-2046
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From the very fine 2022 vintage, this comes from a vineyard known as Moorooroo, the local meaning being ‘the meeting of two waters’. The vineyard is home to what the locals refer to as Ancestor Vines, which were defined in the Barossa Valley’s Old Vine Charter, as vines in excess of 125 years in age. In fact, the vineyard was originally planted in 1847 by a local woman, Ann Jacob, whose name would come to be well known by wine lovers around the world. Maturation was in a mix of new and older French oak barrels for a period between eighteen and twenty-four months. Under cork, there were just 3,400 bottles made. An opaque maroon hue with a purple/magenta rim, this is beautifully perfumed and yet an obviously powerful wine. The nose reveals aromas weaving through chocolate, mocha, coffee beans, blackberries, licorice, cassis and offering hints of finally integrated oak. Stunning stuff. Immaculately balanced, well focused and with good energy, the wine has serious length finishing with silky tannins. So much to like, especially if you are a fan of great Barossa reds. The team suggest cellaring until 2032. That seems to sell the wine dreadfully short, and it will surely handle at least twenty years in a good cellar.
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.
