Zonte’s Footstep 1st Off the Rank Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
- 93
- $40
- Drink by: 2025-2037
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The name here comes from the team’s process of barrel selection – only the best barrels are chosen for this wine, hence it became known as first off the rank. The colour is an inky dark maroon. This is a bold, powerful style with notes of chocolate, warm bitumen, cloves, licorice and blackcurrants. From McLaren Vale, this is a really good example of a warmer climate Cabernet. There is very good length here, with endless fruit and power. There is a hint of toasty oak, with sleek tannins and persistence defining the finish. Perfect for your best steak, and it should remain so for at least 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.
