Tim Adams The Fergus 2017
- 93
- $25
- Drink by: 2022-2027
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A Clare Valley blend of Grenache, Tempranillo and Malbec, not the most common of combinations. Seriously good value for $25 – considering that this is the same vintage as the current Grange. Not often we get wines of this age for this price. The 24th release of the Fergus, named after a neighbour who sold the team Grenache back in 1993.
Old vine Grenache is crushed onto the fermented and drained skins of Tempranillo. Fermentation is for a week, before the tanks were topped and closed for another week for extended maceration. Pressed and then further Tempranillo and Malbec added. The wine then went into old French oak hogsheads for 24 months. The final blend is 34% Grenache, 33% Tempranillo and 33% Malbec. The wine is a bruised plum colour. An alluring nose of red fruits, florals and perfumes. Blueberries, raspberries, chocolate and cherries. Lovely and plush, ripe and generous. Very soft tannins with a finish that lingers for a surprisingly long time. Utterly delicious now and over the next 4 to 5 years. A wine offering pure drinking pleasure.
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.
