Welland Barossa Valley 1846 Shiraz 2024
- 93
- $55
- Drink by: 2026-2038
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The fruit for this thoroughly enjoyable Barossa Shiraz is sourced from vineyards across the Valley. The aim is a style that is “richer, fuller and higher in alcohol than many Barossa red wines”. That will be music to some ears, perhaps less so to others. No matter, there are undoubtedly more than enough wine lovers who adore this style. And this place does it well. The fruit is the last picked each harvest to ensure this ripeness. After fermentation, the wine spends another year in barrels maturing. Under cork. Inky dark purple, this is indeed big and bold. We have aromas weaving through chocolate, coffee grinds, cassis, blackberries and mocha. There is good oak integration, though it is still in progress. Early days and at this stage, some might find the wine a little splintery, while others will find it just their thing. Supple and dense in texture, there is very good length and sleek tannins. This is a wine of immense promise, but it is certainly drinking well now, and can be enjoyed over the next eight to twelve 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.
