Zonte’s Footstep Peacock’s Tail Cabernet Malbec 2020
- 92
- $25
- Drink by: 2026-2034
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The description of a peacock’s tail in respect of wine was, quite possibly, initiated by Len Evans or James Halliday, many years ago in respect to the glories of the finest Burgundies. A truly great Burgundy will see this glorious peacock’s tail of flavours explode at its conclusion. It is a sign that you have been truly blessed by the opportunity to drink such a wine. May I congratulate the team on a brilliant piece of marketing adopting this name. It certainly made me want to drink the wine. Dark red with a cerise rim, on the nose we have aromas of warm earth, tobacco leaves, black fruits, mushrooms, aniseed, coffee grinds and cloves. There is good focus here and the wine has density, while remaining neatly balanced throughout. Quite linear in style, the palate sees the emergence of hints of root vegetables, sour cherries and a touch of fresh beetroot. It finishes with satiny tannins and certainly has good length to it. Enjoy this over the next eight years, during which time there is certainly room for further improvement.
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.
