St Hugo Ric Red 2021
- 92
- $45
- Drink by: 2022-2030
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Celebrity wines are always popular, even if the wine itself does not always live up to the hype. Not so here with this delicious red. Daniel Ricciardo refers to it as his ‘secret sauce’, and all we know is that it is a blend of red varieties from South Aussie vineyards. Secret indeed. We do know that “many winemaking techniques were employed”, but “generally” the parcels spent 10 to 15 days on skins in a mix of open and closed fermenters, with temperatures heading to around 28°C, after which the wine spent some time maturing in oak. The entire thing – wine and package – is obviously designed to be fun, but I think that does the wine a bit of a disservice. It is a lot more than that, and worth noting that the team behind the wine is St Hugo so the pedigree is unquestioned.
A vibrant dark purple, and with the aromas we have rich coffee bean notes, chocolate, handfuls of fresh earth, a pleasing mix of red and darker fruits and hints of mushrooms. Completely seamless with good length and bold flavours, there is impressive intensity right through to a very long finish. Good extraction and soft tannins so lots to like. It will easily go for five to eight years in the cellar, if you prefer to hold off for now, although not sure why you would. This would appeal even if not celebrity-endorsed, although no doubt Daniel’s fans will want to get on board
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.
