Shanahan’s Wines The Reaper Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024
- 95
- $90
- Drink by: 2026-2041
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Definitely a contender for the heavy bottle Olympics, the wine is sealed under vinc cork. The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the Greenock sub-region of the Barossa Valley, with maturation for two years in a mix of French oak hogsheads and puncheons, half of which were new. Opaque maroon, this is a concentrated and focused style of Barossa Shiraz and yet retains a degree of refinement. There is deft oak integration here, and the nose gives us aromas of smoked meats, black fruits, cassis and cocoa powder. Seamless, supple and seductive, there is great length with balance and focus always evident. A bright line of acidity runs the length. 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.
