Wolf Blass Platinum Label ‘Medlands Vineyard’ Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016
- 97
- $200
- Drink by: 2024 - 2040
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Moves away from the usual Blass philosophy of blending anything that moves, this single variety, single vineyard shiraz was also only aged in French oak; the wine saw 20 months in a mix of 72% older and 28% new French oak barriques. Medlands is a special vineyard in the Dorrien sub-region.
It is a seriously good wine and its pristine focus is immediately apparent. Intense and concentrated, but immaculately balanced, it also shows great length and is really exciting. Notes of blueberries, plums, cloves, chocolate and blackfruits shine at this early stage. Balance is key and should see this wine star over the next two decades. Surely one of the very best of this illustrious line.
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.
