This is from a steep granite vineyard at 410 meters: very much like the famed hill of Hermitage. And 2016 is a warm vintage in a cool spot – which was of course historically the formula for all of the greatest French wine classics. Thus this year’s Adelaide Hills Syrah is richer and fuller than usual, but still characteristically complex and expressive.
Halliday 96 (his second highest Shiraz rating of the vintage):
Hand-picked, open-fermented with 30% whole bunches, 10 months in large French oak vats and puncheons. A very smart wine. The bouquet offers a combination of black fruits and stern spices, plus a waft of oak. The medium-bodied palate seamless picks up the theme in a star dust of spicy/peppery flavours and texture. It is at once powerful, yet calmly insistent.
Suckling 95 (above that famous, Jimmy Watson Trophy 2013):
The purity of fruit is impressive to say the least. The blue fruits just keep on coming with notes of brambleberries, dark cherries, dark plums, pressed violets, acai berries, elderberries. Citrus, nutmeg, licorice, dark chocolate and charcoal follow. Very tight and chewy on the palate, which is so structured and fine-tuned. Full body, grainy and encompassing tannins and a long, steely finish. Edgy and silky at the same time.
Also outstanding ratings from the Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast.
As always, an Australian Syrah that will impress both those who love classic Australian Shiraz and those who love the best Syrahs of the Northern Rhone (Hermitage and Cote-Rotie). And at a really great price, too.
