Welland Barossa Old Hands Shiraz 2019
- 95
- $70
- Drink by: 2022-2037
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As with the other wines in the range, the fruit for this cracking Barossa Shiraz was crushed and destemmed into a fermenter for a week, with twice daily pumpovers. The wine then spends 14 to 18 months for maturation in American oak, 40% of that being new hogsheads. Inky black in colour, the immediate impression is of a luscious plushness, and there is little chance of mistaking the origins of this gorgeous Shiraz – it is all Barossa in style. The oak influence is still melding, but showing every sign of doing so very well. Plums and chocolates dominate, with cassis, coffee beans, blackberries, mocha and licorice. Intense and richly flavoured, this is dense, but there is a form of lightness and freshness which makes it so appealing. The finish then lingers with cashmere-like tannins before an exceptionally long and impressive finish. Expect this to drink beautifully for a decade to fifteen years plus.
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.
