Varietals: Syrah

Clones:  R6WV28, Bests, Old Clone

Harvest: 8 March, 2019

Baume at Harvest: 13.6

pH at Harvest: 3.63

TA at Harvest: 4.3

Oak Forests: Allier, Vosges & Chatillon

Oak Age: 20% New

Cooler climate growing regions like the Yarra Valley are heralding an elegant style of Syrah (Shiraz) and our elevated, well-drained site, elevated with suitably chosen clones create a graceful yet powerful wine. Our fruit was gently picked on various dates, depending on the clone, before being separated into whole berry or whole bunch ferments. It was then racked to barriques and puncheons (20% new) where it slowly aged for 18 months.

[2019 Vintage] – 4 Stars by Winewise Magazine, September 2020

[2019 Vintage] – 92 Points by Steve Leszczynski, QWine, September 2020

[2019 Vintage] – 3.5 Stars by Wine Business Magazine, Aug/Sept 2020

[2019 Vintage] – 90 Points by Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review, March 2020

[2016 Vintage] – 93 Points by Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine, May/June 2020

[2016 Vintage] – 93 Points by James Halliday, 2019 Halliday Wine Companion

[2015 Vintage] – 94 Points by James Halliday, 2018 Halliday Wine Companion

[2014 Vintage] – 94 Points by James Halliday, 2017 Halliday Wine Companion

[2014 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards

Cooler climate growing regions like the Yarra Valley are heralding an elegant style of Syrah (Shiraz) and our elevated, well-drained site, elevated with suitably chosen clones create a graceful yet powerful wine. Our fruit was gently picked on various dates, depending on the clone, before being separated into whole berry or whole bunch ferments. It was then racked to barriques and puncheons (20% new) where it slowly aged for 9 months. A spicy bouquet and savoury palate with intense red and black fruit coupled with fine grained tannins and spice, all bound together with a sweet clip of new oak.

“Velvet power and grace.”

“Wow what a sensational wine. And it is so young. How much potential has this Shiraz got to develop into a very respectable red, is the magic question here? It is delivering the goods big-time already in my books. Inky crimson purple, the purity of fruit just subsumes the senses. The aromas are classic smooth and seductive. Spicy fruit, cherries, blueberries, plums, and black licorice all come through in a slow unwinding manner. Love the nose. Have sat here smelling it for an inordinate time! The oak treatment is there subtle letting the fruit shine and do its work. The ripe fresh fruit resonates on the palate long lingering and smooth, ever so fine yet there tannins. There is much more to come but it is luxuriant drinking now. Very much so. Delicious and moreish. It will improve incrementally with time in different dimensions and it has, as I said, the hallmarks of a very, very decent red. Try this with Wagyu beef steak. 97 Points.”
Paul Ippolito, Sept 2020 (2019 Vintage)

“ The dark berry and spice aromas are quite seductive, leading to a long palate that is acid-fresh, balanced by fine tannins. 4 Stars.”
Winewise Magazine, Sept 2020 (2019 Vintage)

“I found this release to be more Shiraz than Syrah. Stylistically, it is a little more abrasive than those previous. This 2019 is a spicy number too. There’s plenty going on – interest is always a feature of Soumah wines. Think char, cloves, earth, red cherries, and red plums. Some bunchy feels too add pleasing savoury appeal. Time in the glass reveals cola as well. A captivating wine which fills the mouth before long ribbon of spice caps off a tidy wine. 92 Points.”
QWine, Sept 2020 (2019 Vintage)

“A youthful fruit driven style with vibrant plum aromas, cranberry-like flavours and a fine tannin profile. 3.5 Stars.”
Wine Business Magazine, Aug/Sept 2020 (2019 Vintage)

“Brilliant glass-staining colour. A bit of a reductive ‘whoof’ meets the nose at first but it clears quickly. There’s a distinct dark choc-coated liqueur cherry thing on the nose, along with some foresty, whole-bunchy notes. It tastes choclatey and rich too, with plenty of ripe flavour, but a savoury edge keeps it from jamminess. Mocha oak perfumes the lingering finish nicely. 90 Points.”
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review, March 2020 (2019 Vintage)

“A powerful and assertive wine. It’s very perfumed and pretty and shows floral characters overlaid on raspberry and fresh strawberry fruitiness. There’s a touch of rose water in the wine too. Lost of spice, don’t forget that. It feels cool climate to the core, yet delivers quite a lot more. 93 Points.”
Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine, May/June 2020 (2016 Vintage)

“Attractively fresh red berry aromas with a hint of whole-bunch complexity. The palate offers fine tannins, intensity and length. A classy medium-bodied red.”
Winewise, October 2019 (2016 Vintage)

“There’s a masculinity about this Yarra Valley Single Vineyard Syrah. Baked raspberry and meaty aromas strike early. Pretty red florals follow suit. There’s a blueberry and mulberry complexity too. Scents of lillipilly and French polish rise up with more time in the glass. It’s not a glistening wine yet there’s this rustic appeal about it which I find endearing. Firm in the mouth, some red currant steps up with some air under its wings. Tea like tannins roll through and clutch to a long and moreish finish. It might not be to everyone’s liking, but for me, giddy up!”
QWine, September 2019 (2016 Vintage)

“Whole berry and whole bunch ferments employed, aged in French barriques and puncheons (30% new) for 18 months. Spicy aromas with green pepper and clove in the mix, with riper notes of blackberry and some oak sweetness in play. Juicy and supple through the palate with generous fruit and fine astringency which seems to be built more on acid than tannin.”
Halliday Wine Companion 2019 (2016 Vintage)

“Good hue and depth; the scented bouquet has spice, pepper, balance and cedary oak all on show, the medium-bodied palate providing an instant replay.”
Halliday Wine Companion 2018 (2015 Vintage)

“Appealing Shiraz from the Yarra Valley. Lighter bodied, but in a good way. It’s light and juicy with a clip of sweet-toasty oak. Easy to drink but with enough fine-grained tannin and savoury, crushed-leaf spicy notes to keep it from seeming simple. Dark cherry and blueberry fruit profile. You can easily drink this now though it should develop well. The antithesis of a blockbuster shiraz.”
Campbell Mattinson – 92 points (2012 Vintage)