Schubert Estate The Sentinel Shiraz 2015
- 95
- $88
- Drink by: 2021 - 2032
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Given that pretty much everything else from this impressive estate emerges with a goose motif of some sort, one might wonder why this is called ‘The Sentinel’? There seems no (public) explanation but as those birds are better watch dogs than most watch dogs, that is my guess.
This wine is sourced from two discrete blocks within their Marananga vineyard. As is usual for this estate, the grapes are hand-picked, then destemmed and fermented in 5 tonne open top fermenters. Pumpovers are twice daily. Again, basket-pressing with both free-run juice and pressings combined. Maturation is for 16 months in a mix of new (26%) and old (74%) French oak 225-litre barriques. Bottling follows barrel selection.
A very dark red colour here. Cracking aromas. This is a lovely, big, bold, cuddly, plush Barossa shiraz, exactly the thing that has earned this variety so many fans around the globe. Chocolate, coffee bean and mocha notes. It is already six years old but it seems brand new. Delightfully fresh. Long soft tannins, very good length and nicely balanced. 10 years at least ahead. Utterly delicious.
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.
