St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2019
- 96
- $165
- Drink by: 2024-2044
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This label was one of the earlier Barossa elites and an absolute favourite. Hard to imagine just how much was enjoyed over businessmen’s lunches. Over the years, there has been plenty of competition, but it has always hung in there and with this wine, we see it right back on top. The grapes are 83% Barossa and 17% Eden Valley. The average age of vines used here is a whopping 91 years. The colour here is an inky dark maroon. A gorgeous and gorgeously evocative nose, the wine is plush, saturated in flavours and generous. It exhibits black fruits, cassis, hints of chocolate mud cake, spices, mocha, coffee beans, cocoa powder, soy and licorice. The use of oak is exemplary, the balance superb and the length just so impressive before finishing with satiny tannins. A twenty year proposition.
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.
