Woodvale Soul Garden GSM 2021
- 92
- $30
- Drink by: 2022-2030
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This blend pays tribute to the Southern Rhone, Grenache dominant (90%) with 5% each of Shiraz and Mataro (always nice to see a winery use the name ‘Mataro’ rather than the somm-trendy Mourvèdre). The Grenache is from a block planted by Leasingham in 1955; the Shiraz from a twenty-year-old dry grown vineyard in Watervale; the Mataro from the Penwortham sub-region. The aim from the team was to make a wine in the ‘Joven’ style – namely, a light and fresh Rioja style, and the discrete parcels were vinified individually before blending. The Grenache spent three months in older French hogsheads while the other two parcels only saw stainless steel. Deep maroon in colour, this is full of fruit and flavour. Chocolate, dry herbs, mulberries, cloves and cherries with very fine tannins – this is delicious stuff and the finish lingers nicely with good intensity. Enjoy it now but, if you wanted, it could cellar for up to another 4 to 8 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.
