Wynns Black Label Old Vines Shiraz 2024
- 94
- $45
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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Always a personal favourite, this latest release is another cracker. Whilst Coonawarra is seen very much as a Cabernet region, its original fame was built on Shiraz. The vines which provide the fruit here are some of the oldest in the region and include grapes harvested from the Undoolya Vineyard, which was established at some stage between 1894 and 1897. Maturation was for sixteen months in a mix of new and older French oak hogsheads and barriques. Dark maroon in colour, there is concentration, plushness, depth and balance with very good oak integration throughout. The nose gives us aromas of black fruits, chocolate, dried herbs, mocha, licorice, cassis and a character reminiscent of chocolate mud cake, in the very best way. Impressive length here through to the fine powdery tannins, this is a delicious Shiraz which will drink wonderfully well over the next decade. And there is room to improve even further during that period.
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.
