I don’t drink or buy Aussie wines, normally. But I’m going to get a case of this. It was recommended to me by a good ITB retailer guy I’ve know for a few years. When I was seeking out a nice Syrah to drink now. I was not seeking out Aussie. I was reluctant to even consider being steered to the Aussie racks, but keywords like cool climate and refined got my attention.
A deep ruby color, but surprisingly bright for a Syrah. Not at all like a heavy dark brooding thick mass. A lot of white pepper and spice on the nose. Very expressive right out the gate.
Really nicely done texture and mouth-feel. This is one of the best qualities of this wine. It has that medium body fine wine texture to it. Not a jammy, syrupy body like I have come to expect in my experiences with Aussie Shiraz.
The flavor is pepper and berry. Not extracted at all, but very powerful and intense. And focused. It doesn’t knock you over, but it’s singing out loud right now. You pick up pepper easily up front, but then there’s the precise dark berry in the back. Ying and yang.
This is my second bottle in three days and just like the first time it’s something I find interesting and my glass always seems to be empty. I can’t say that about the (limited) entry level N Rhone VDP class syrah I have access to here.
I have no idea how a wine like this would age. I have zero experience. But I have read it will go 10. Not sure how much it would improve other than become more refined. 2011 was not a great vintage. Like other producers, in an off vintage, all the vineyard fruit is in the entry level bottle. Best’s has two other higher end bottlings that ended up in the Bin 1 and I’m pretty sure that good, older vine fruit elevates the quality of this entry level bottle. For $25, its a good if not great buy.