Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2019
- 94
- $60
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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A warm and dry vintage for the region in 2019, which helped ensure that the Whalebone Vineyard, planted 45 years ago, had a very small yield. The wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Shiraz. The Shiraz comes from the Crayères Vineyard. After destemming, the two varieties were fermented separately, after cold soaking. A week’s maceration on skins followed. Malolactic fermentation was in French oak barriques, half new and half single use, before seventeen months of maturation. 670 dozen under cork. Deep maroon in colour, the nose gives aromas of black fruits, warm earth, cigar box notes, tobacco leaves and toasty oak. There are hints of vanilla, nutmeg, chocolate, dried herbs and cassis. Showing good length and fine tannins, this is an attractive style for drinking over the best part of the next decade.
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.
