Welland Barossa Valley and Valley Shiraz 2020
- 94
- $30
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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The ‘Valley and Valley’ range represents wines blended from sources from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys. The fruit is crushed and destemmed into a fermenter for a week with twice daily pumpovers, then to American oak for a year to mature. Glowing magenta in colour, the nose is immediately appealing with plums and chocolate, coffee beans, black cherries and florals. Chocolate, mocha and hints of licorice then dominate the palate. Rich and ripe, this is a cracking Barossa (and Eden Valley) Shiraz. While there are soft tannins, the wine is well structured, with balance, focus and intensity. This has a decade ahead if you decide that the immediate gratification on offer is not your thing. So much to like here, especially the value.
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.
