Schild Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet 2022
- 95
- $95
- Drink by: 2025-2040
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The squat bottle seems to be becoming more and more popular and we are seeing some seriously good wines in them, suggesting that anyone who thinks that this is simply a marketing venture is very far from the mark. This is a blend of 72% Shiraz and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon from a superb vintage in the Barossa Valley, specifically the Narrow Road Vineyard in the Rowland Flat sub-region. Maturation was in a range of different sized French barrels, some new, for eighteen to twenty-four months. Blended from 19 barrels, the wine is under cork. A gorgeous nose, generous and richly flavoured. Easy to see why wines like this are such crowd pleasers. There are notes of blackberries, mocha, cassis, chocolate, licorice, coffee beans and immaculately integrated oak. The palate is dominated by those black fruits. So much to love here, from the plush and exuberant texture, the silky tannins and fine balance to some serious length. For enjoying over the next ten to fifteen 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.
