feels more extracted (fact check?) compared to Castagna, much more intensity and slightly more body (med+). perhaps one of the most savoury (yet balanced wines unlike Swinney) wines of the lineup, but does not feel foreign. this element is more integrated into the wine. not much difference between the 2021 and the 2018 in terms of development, just very slightly.
feels more extracted (fact check?) compared to Castagna, much more intensity and slightly more body (med+). perhaps one of the most savoury (yet balanced wines unlike Swinney) wines of the lineup, but does not feel foreign. this element is more integrated into the wine. not much difference between the 2021 and the 2018 in terms of development, just very slightly.
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
more of a structured style, but very purfumed especially on the nose perhaps from the higher than average Viognier proportion. felt it had more body/ alcohol than 13%.
big, bad, bold style. inky dark fruits, almost raisin-like and a sweet finish. not my style but a very good rendition of it. submerged cap, transferred into hogshead barrels to finish alcoholic fermentation after 7-10 days. 23% American, the rest French. aged 20 months.
big, bad, bold style. inky dark fruits, almost raisin-like and a sweet finish. not my style but a very good rendition of it. submerged cap, transferred into hogshead barrels to finish alcoholic fermentation after 7-10 days. 23% American, the rest French. aged 20 months.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
very tight, chalky high tannins. new oak quite prominent, not sure if I had a Syrah of this style before. perhaps something like a Guigal Lala would be. the 2010 still youthful, still high tannins and fruits not very open yet. will it ever? or just needs some time in a decanter. cap submerged during fermentation in stainless steel. french oak for 15 months.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
very tight, chalky high tannins. new oak quite prominent, not sure if I had a Syrah of this style before. perhaps something like a Guigal Lala would be. the 2010 still youthful, still high tannins and fruits not very open yet. will it ever? or just needs some time in a decanter. cap submerged during fermentation in stainless steel. french oak for 15 months.
the 2004 especially fine, restrained. the meatiness does not imbalance the wine. prettier than By Farr.wrote "most balanced so far" in my tasting notes. has the good foundations of a good bordeaux (feels more natural rather than ticking boxes that some new world wines taste like), still has that Syrah reductive character showing through but well managed. does feel like a serious wine that needs time in glass to properly appreciate it.
wrote "most balanced so far" in my tasting notes. has the good foundations of a good bordeaux (feels more natural rather than ticking boxes that some new world wines taste like), still has that Syrah reductive character showing through but well managed. does feel like a serious wine that needs time in glass to properly appreciate it.
my favourite among the 10 or so producers. the most elegant and well integrated (perhaps benefitted from slightly more bottle age). tannins more refined, not quite plump as the others, but rather more an elegant, airy texture to it, "see through tannins". style comparable to Paringa, riper than that but a better version of it I'm afraid. only 2000 bottles produced.
my favourite among the 10 or so producers. the most elegant and well integrated (perhaps benefitted from slightly more bottle age). tannins more refined, not quite plump as the others, but rather more an elegant, airy texture to it, "see through tannins". style comparable to Paringa, riper than that but a better version of it I'm afraid. only 2000 bottles produced.
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula
the most elegant and cool climate style of all, natural due to its climate which you can immediately feel it. almost pinot like texture. (see 2021 vintage notes)
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula
almost Pinot-like at entry. soft, high acidity. more of a cooler climate style (of course..). better vs those from Swinney. the pepperiness not as stand-out, and fruit well polished.
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
better integrated than the 2021, med bodied. less of the pepperiness and seems a toouch riper. (analytically quite similar though, perhaps the effect of ageing)
2018 By Farr Shiraz
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong
feels more extracted (fact check?) compared to Castagna, much more intensity and slightly more body (med+). perhaps one of the most savoury (yet balanced wines unlike Swinney) wines of the lineup, but does not feel foreign. this element is more integrated into the wine. not much difference between the 2021 and the 2018 in terms of development, just very slightly.
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2021 By Farr Shiraz
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong
feels more extracted (fact check?) compared to Castagna, much more intensity and slightly more body (med+). perhaps one of the most savoury (yet balanced wines unlike Swinney) wines of the lineup, but does not feel foreign. this element is more integrated into the wine. not much difference between the 2021 and the 2018 in terms of development, just very slightly.
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2006 Castagna Syrah Genesis
Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth
still structured but very fine tannins, felt on the tongue. hints of viognier sweetness.
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2019 Castagna Syrah Genesis
Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth
med bodied, bright fruits but more on the old world side of things. the first one (chronologically) in the tasting that has a bit more restrained.
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2016 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
a drier vintage, with some of the earliest pickings on record.
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2022 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
more of a structured style, but very purfumed especially on the nose perhaps from the higher than average Viognier proportion. felt it had more body/ alcohol than 13%.
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2013 Henschke Shiraz Mount Edelstone
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
big, bad, bold style. inky dark fruits, almost raisin-like and a sweet finish. not my style but a very good rendition of it.
submerged cap, transferred into hogshead barrels to finish alcoholic fermentation after 7-10 days. 23% American, the rest French. aged 20 months.
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2018 Henschke Shiraz Mount Edelstone
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
big, bad, bold style. inky dark fruits, almost raisin-like and a sweet finish. not my style but a very good rendition of it.
submerged cap, transferred into hogshead barrels to finish alcoholic fermentation after 7-10 days. 23% American, the rest French. aged 20 months.
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2010 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
very tight, chalky high tannins. new oak quite prominent, not sure if I had a Syrah of this style before. perhaps something like a Guigal Lala would be. the 2010 still youthful, still high tannins and fruits not very open yet. will it ever? or just needs some time in a decanter.
cap submerged during fermentation in stainless steel. french oak for 15 months.
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2018 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
very tight, chalky high tannins. new oak quite prominent, not sure if I had a Syrah of this style before. perhaps something like a Guigal Lala would be. the 2010 still youthful, still high tannins and fruits not very open yet. will it ever? or just needs some time in a decanter.
cap submerged during fermentation in stainless steel. french oak for 15 months.
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2018 Leeuwin Estate Shiraz Art Series
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
quite a ripe fruit profile, more dark fruits than red (perhaps from the warmth of the vintage?). fair bit of new oak but well integrated.
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2021 Leeuwin Estate Shiraz Art Series
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
quite a ripe fruit profile, more dark fruits than red (perhaps from the warmth of the vintage?). fair bit of new oak but well integrated.
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2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Langhi Shiraz
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
the 2004 especially fine, restrained. the meatiness does not imbalance the wine. prettier than By Farr.wrote "most balanced so far" in my tasting notes. has the good foundations of a good bordeaux (feels more natural rather than ticking boxes that some new world wines taste like), still has that Syrah reductive character showing through but well managed. does feel like a serious wine that needs time in glass to properly appreciate it.
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2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Langhi Shiraz
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
wrote "most balanced so far" in my tasting notes. has the good foundations of a good bordeaux (feels more natural rather than ticking boxes that some new world wines taste like), still has that Syrah reductive character showing through but well managed. does feel like a serious wine that needs time in glass to properly appreciate it.
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2014 Mount Pleasant Wines Shiraz Maurice O'Shea
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
my favourite among the 10 or so producers. the most elegant and well integrated (perhaps benefitted from slightly more bottle age). tannins more refined, not quite plump as the others, but rather more an elegant, airy texture to it, "see through tannins". style comparable to Paringa, riper than that but a better version of it I'm afraid.
only 2000 bottles produced.
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2021 Mount Pleasant Wines Shiraz Maurice O'Shea
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
my favourite among the 10 or so producers. the most elegant and well integrated (perhaps benefitted from slightly more bottle age). tannins more refined, not quite plump as the others, but rather more an elegant, airy texture to it, "see through tannins". style comparable to Paringa, riper than that but a better version of it I'm afraid.
only 2000 bottles produced.
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2015 Paringa Estate Shiraz The Paringa Single Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula
the most elegant and cool climate style of all, natural due to its climate which you can immediately feel it. almost pinot like texture. (see 2021 vintage notes)
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2021 Paringa Estate Shiraz The Paringa Single Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula
almost Pinot-like at entry. soft, high acidity. more of a cooler climate style (of course..). better vs those from Swinney. the pepperiness not as stand-out, and fruit well polished.
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2018 Swinney Syrah Farvie
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
better integrated than the 2021, med bodied. less of the pepperiness and seems a toouch riper. (analytically quite similar though, perhaps the effect of ageing)
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2021 Swinney Syrah Farvie
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
lots of reduction, lots of meatiness, not entirely positive yet has an elegant profile. lots of smoke, high acidity.
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