Yalumba The Steeple Shiraz 2022
- 93
- $100
- Drink by: 2026-2028
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From a single vineyard, just 1.3 hectares in size, located in the Light Pass sub-region of the Barossa, and from the superb 2022 vintage, the team have adopted biodynamic principles for this wine. The vines were originally planted back in 1919. Maturation was for sixteen months in Tonnellerie Sylvain ‘Artistic Series’ barriques, with 15% of them new barriques made from a single 365-year-old oak tree. Maroon with a garnet rim, the nose exhibits notes of dry herbs, bacon fat, animal skins, garden herbs, black fruits and aniseed. There is good complexity here with focus, drive and length. A sleek texture, good balance and satiny tannins round out an excellent Barossa Shiraz with good persistence. The palate sees a move to notes of charcuterie. This should drink beautifully for the next ten to twelve 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.
