Vin Sol Wines Fortis Shiraz 2024
- 93
- $27
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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The team here have aimed for a more modern style of Shiraz from McLaren Vale, approachable and elegant. Admirable, but in the end, one cannot hide one’s true nature, and the generosity of McLaren Vale is impossible to suppress – not a bad thing. Maturation was in a mix of older French and American oak for a year and a half. As well as the usual recommendations for serving with this wine, we also have music suggestions, confirming that, other than Pink Floyd, my musical tastes are apparently utterly ill-suited to this wine. Fortunately, it is not on musical combos that we judge it. Dark maroon with a deep blood red/plum edge, the nose reveals aromas of mulberries, kirsch, chocolate, cloves, dried herbs, cassis and plums. A luscious and plush texture, the palate sees the emergence of more chocolatey notes with black fruits and vanilla. Oak integration is excellent. A lovely bold McLaren Vale Shiraz which will provide pleasure for the next ten years.
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.
