TASTING NOTE
A calm composed nose suggests great depth. Violets, cinnamon, peppercorns, smoke,
stones, and dusty earth mingle with redcurrants, cherries and plums. The palate has todie-for weightlessness and is perfectly poised between a range of ripe, velvety fruits and
savoury tones. The whole bunches and our ironstone soils conjure a slew of sweet and
exotic spices threaded through the fine, ferrous tannins. Thoroughly compelling and
cohesive from first sniff to the soaring finish.
'I love the direction we’ve taken with this wine, pursuing that Syrah style. The wholebunch parcels we’re getting are absolutely amazing – brilliant wines in their own right.
The 470 clone has a lovely fruit profile and the big barrels are retaining brightness and
uniqueness of site.' – Brian Kent
2021 VINTAGE
2021 was really positive for Syrah. Everything looked good, the crop was a healthy size
and everything ripened beautifully. We picked in April, pretty late but the fruit was
aromatically charged with lots of spice and pepper.
Considerable dedication to viticulture has in turn is allowing us to make the Syrah we are
making today.
VINEYARD
Fruit for this wine was sourced from three different locations in the Isolation Ridge
vineyard at Frankland Estate. The vineyard is planted on undulating northern and eastern
facing slopes and has duplex soils of ironstone gravel and loam over a clay sub soil. A
combination of the original 1988 'Houghtons' Clone plantings as well as the newer
Hermitage Clone 470. Organic certification achieved on these vineyards since 2009.
VINIFICATION
This wine is 94% Syrah with 4% Viognier and 2% Mourvèdre. 20% whole bunches are
included, carefully sourced from among two blocks where the stems turn yellow early.
The perfume from these leaps out of the glass and the tannins give a sense of width, with
gentle chewiness. 45% of the blend is from the 1988-planted winery block. 49% is 470
clone which brings more complexity and another dimension to the tannin profile. The 470
also reaches perfect ripeness at slightly lower sugar levels, which serves the restrained
balance of this wine. Mourvèdre and Viognier add complexity of flavour and texture while
Syrah remains the hero. Our aim is delicacy with power.
The wine was matured for 14 months in 3,500-litre foudre and a few additional 500-litre
puncheons.
14.5% Alc Drink 2023 – 2035
