St Hallett Higher Earth Syrah Eden Valley 2021
- 96
- $65
- Drink by: 2024-2044
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This is the St Hallett take on Eden Valley Shiraz/Syrah, and what a terrific wine it is. A Shiraz of finesse and elegance and, from a cracking vintage, this is a brilliant buy. The winemaking saw the inclusion of small amounts of whole bunches and wild fermentation. Maturation was in French oak puncheons and hogsheads, one-quarter new, for almost a year and a half. The colour is a deep, dark near black/purple. A nose which just screams class, it exhibits notes of chocolate, spices, hints of Christmas cake, aniseed, smoked meats, blackcurrants, violets and plums. It offers a supple texture and a seamless structure, with great length. There is fine acidity and the silkiest of tannins, while the balance is as close to perfect as one could wish. A stunner. Drink for fifteen to twenty 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.
