Welland Barossa Old Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
- 93
- $70
- Drink by: 2022-3032
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The ‘Old Hands’ series pays tribute to the Barossa’s long-time grapegrowers. The wines are made in the typical Barossan style, much loved for good reason. Again, the fruit is crushed, destemmed and placed into a fermenter for a week with twice daily pumpovers. The wine then goes to French oak barrels, around 30% new hogsheads, for maturation for between 12 and 18 months. Opaque magenta in colour, it has an intriguing nose of roast meats, a whiff of charcoal, black fruits, a touch of plums and dry herbs. There is oak here and it is in the process of integration. A powerful and concentrated palate follows with juicy tannins and excellent length. The less patient among us may look to enjoy this wine now, but those who can put it away for three to four years will then be well rewarded over 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.
