Woodvale Woodberry Shiraz 2017
- 94
- $50
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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Always good to see museum releases available at compelling and competitive prices. From what winemaker Kevin Mitchell’s father, Mort, has described as an old-fashioned vintage (a good thing), the grapes are from the from the high altitude Netherby Hill vineyard on the western edge of Clare. During vinification, there was hand plunging with a year and a half in a mix of new and older French oak hogsheads for maturation. Deep magenta colour, we have aromas moving through tobacco leaves, dry herbs, leather, chocolate and cassis with good oak integration. A powerful palate, delicious and exuberant supported by abundant tannins with good balance to be found and very good length. This is a cracker and should drink well for a decade.
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.
