Ulithorne ‘Magnum Opus’ Nero d’Avola 2019
- 91
- $35
- Drink by: 2022 - 2024
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From a single vineyard located in Blewitt Springs, where the soil is ‘sand over clay’, this Italian favourite undergoes small batch fermentation before being pressed to French oak barrels. It then enjoys 18 months barrel maturation. Deep red, this is neatly perfumed. Red fruits, hints of milk chocolate, coffee grinds and then moving more to darker fruits. Quite savoury in style. An attractive supple texture. The palate sees the emergence of more strawberry and blackberry notes, intertwined. A little earthiness added to the complexity. A fine example of this Italian variety, which seems to be becoming more and more popular here. Easy to see why.
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.
