I opened this up for an event on Saturday and even I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Sure, this latest iteration of Luke Lambert’s Yarra Valley Syrah (Shiraz. Let’s just all call Australian Syrah ‘Shiraz’) comes sealed with a cork. But that remains the only nod to old school styles, for this is as far from the ‘big and oaky Aussie Shiraz’ traditional stereotype as you could get.
Despite the obvious detail in the winemaking – handpicked, wild fermented in large old oak with 70% whole bunches and minimal fining or filtration – this also remains an awfully well-priced wine. No wonder it sells out fast.
From the start, this is gently spicy Shiraz with bright fruit and light tannins. That graceful, peppery, mid-weight style helps gives this a real delicacy, as if we’re talking Pinot rather than Shiraz. Peppercorns meet mulberry, the acid low, with just a little intrusion of firm edges courtesy of the whole bunches.
Lovely wine that entrances with its easy balance between serious tannins and sour fruit, with a generous beauty that is easy to appreciate (and so easy to drink). Not a profound wine, but a delicious one.
It’s a yes from me. Best drinking: 2017-2025. 18/20, 93/100. 13.5%, $40. Would I buy it? Would be nice to have a six pack of this floating around.
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9 Comments
“A note on advertising: It’s annoying, but your clicks on ads keep this site free – now almost covering my hosting fees! #wildtimes”
Yes Andrew, I’m currently working out whether to click on an ad about a Toyota Fortuner offered by Auckland City Toyota (that said, I think it will be difficult to get that car back to the Gold Coast, and I hate SUVs in any case) or one about Russian women who apparently want to date me (not sure how that’s going to happen as I am currently not in Russia, so dates are going to be tricky, and not sure if my wife with be totally okay with this).
MichaelC
Haha. I had the Russian wives ad pop up for me the other day. Still not sure why. Mildly entertained all the same
They’ve now decided I prefer Fords and a “Naughty Date with Single Women”, and that I’m in the market for Bridgestone tyres and a Honda offroad motorcycle. So the Internet’s consensus is that I am a sex-crazed automotive enthusiast.
One thing I’ve noticed is that, if you look at anything about old American cars (I was helping my non-computer-literate dad find some parts for his Mustang a few times), you end up with Asian/Chinese wives ads. I copped that for weeks afterwards on a few occasions … Must be deemed a certain characteristic of the muscle-car enthusiast demographic!!
MichaelC
It’s intriguing the connections made given that it’s meant to be a ‘content match’.
I never ever see wine/liquor ads pop up, but my search history is littered with visits to retailers who would theoretically be embracing the content matched Google ads. So odd.
Hang on…..awfully well priced?……$40 for a basically oak virgin Shiraz……no thanks.
In the context of the Yarra, where $40 is the starting point for good Shiraz, this is great value. Especially when the likes of Yarra Yering are double that mark…
Hey Andrew, thanks for the great reviews. You might just want to be careful about mentioning the ads, as I think it’s against Adsense’s terms of service to do that. Hate to see your Adsense account get banned!! 😉
I’m on it Matt. Will rephrase it 🙂
By coincidence drinking the 2013 Syrah tonight and it really is exceptional. Not just in Yarra terms; I think I paid $35-ish, and no doubt about the value.