$42.99
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Region: Frankland River, WA
Grape: Syrah
First Glance: Lifted black fruit, smooth tannin, red meats, black pepper
Acclaim: 96+ points
The Swinney family have firmly established themselves as a grape-growing-institution in the Frankland River region. But while the Swinneys grow grapes for a number of prolific producers, their own wines from the family estate, are of incredible quality, and easily go toe-to-toe with the wines of their top clients – the likes of Penfolds and Hardy’s. With Matt Swinney currently at the helm, the estate was recently recognised with the Young Gun of Wine’s ‘Australian Vineyard of the Year’ award, a testament to the team’s impressive attention to detail, knowledge of their land, and mind for sustainability.
A lot of thought and restraint goes into making this delicious Frankland Syrah, to ensure a balanced complex result. One of the tools used is shade cloth, to reduce the direct sunlight on berry clusters and avoid sunburn or rough skins, which would cause darker flavours and tougher tannins. A small whole-bunch component is used during fermentation to The wine is likewise treated to a very moderate oak treatment of 11 months in medium sized (600L) oak barrels, only 12% being new. All in all a very well composed and deliciously buoyant release!
The review:
96+ points, Erika Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The 2021 Syrah is a haunting, glowing crimson in the glass. I love the tannins here—they’re so good that they compel me to look beyond the fruit and to the structure, which is a rare occurrence. There are notes of pink peppercorns and Sichuan peppercorn, and the fruit has purity, clarity and a supple flow through the mouth. The tension through the finish makes this wine a superb example of Australian Syrah. It is mineral and structured, devoid of heavy oak impact and layered with ductile tannins, supple fruit and spice.
