2021 Single Vineyard Hexham Pinot Noir-Syrah
Fruit balance, crunch and vibrancy.
Pinot Noir and Syrah together might be an oxymoron to some. The blend, however, has a great heritage in Australian winemaking with many legendary wines made of this blend in the forties and fifties by some of Australia’s most famous winemakers!
This could simply be the middle ground when trying to create a light dry red; the place where the nervous tension and acid of the Pinot helps make the spicy, tannic Syrah fundamentally softer and more approachable.
About equal weight of each variety helps make the blend not more than the other, and it is this balance that makes it right for any occasion.
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[2021 Vintage] – 90 Points by Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion 2024
[2021 Vintage] – 91 Points by JamesSuckling.com, October 2022
[2021 Vintage] – 91 Points by Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2022
[2021 Vintage] – 92 Points by Qwine, July 2022
“More syrah-led on the nose, with lots of black and red currants, blackberries, smoked meat and grilled herbs. Savory olives, too. It’s medium-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Deliciously savoury at the end. Drink now. 91 Points.”
JamesSuckling.com, October 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Vibrant purple colour of good depth, has a lovely spicy bouquet with fresh cherries and raspberries, plus just a hint of leafiness. The palate is lighter in style, yet has lashings of elegant flavours and superb counterbalancing acidity making it ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! This wine can’t be considered as a PINOT NOIR, nor as a SHIRAZ. It is in fact a gorgeous, light-medium bodied dry red which is superb.”
Dan Traucki, August 2022
“I don’t know the percentage (of each variety) but in the glass they’ve got them exactly right. The tang and earthen complexity of pinot noir, the push of red berried/plum-shot shiraz fruit through the centre. It feels both complete and satisfying – in the context that it’s mid-weight at most – with just-enough polish to give it a bit of class. There’s elite winemaking/growing at play here. 92+ Points.”
Campbell Mattinson, The WineFront, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Yarra Valley pinot noir and shiraz show similar dark cherry characteristics. This skilfully blended red combines the best of both varieties. If you enjoy village Côte de Beaune reds, you’ll like this – and the price. 4 Stars.”
Lester Jesberg, Winewise, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Deep, bright, youthful purple-red colour, the bouquet is blueberry with strong vegetal overtones, stemmy and humus-like, the palate medium bodied and fleshy with abundant soft, fine tannins and good length. An attractive light to medium bodied red which drinks well young, and will no doubt age quite well also. 91 Points.”
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“…This is a ripper. A wine better suited with food by its side on opening, it showed a softer, more delicate side with time in the glass and on day two and three of tasting.
Dark cherries, undergrowth and dried leaves, the Pinot component really stands up. Scents of purple flowers add prettiness and curiosity. Shiraz adds depth through the mouth with a wash of mulberries, sweet spice and fine black pepper running long. You could get very comfortable here – it’s a great drink. 92 Points.”
Qwine, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
2021
Winter was wetter and warmer than the 25-year average, building the water table with spring cooler than normal, slowing down the vegetative cycle. These cooler temperatures persisted into summer with some abnormal drenching rains in January adding to the mild temperatures. February witnessed no rain to speak of setting up for a calm harvest through March. The crop was slightly heavier than normal due to January rain although the crunch of natural acidity from a cooler season helped set up good natural fermentation and ultimate wine balance.
[2021 Vintage] – 90 Points by Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion 2024
[2021 Vintage] – 91 Points by JamesSuckling.com, October 2022
[2021 Vintage] – 91 Points by Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2022
[2021 Vintage] – 92 Points by Qwine, July 2022
“More syrah-led on the nose, with lots of black and red currants, blackberries, smoked meat and grilled herbs. Savory olives, too. It’s medium-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Deliciously savoury at the end. Drink now. 91 Points.”
JamesSuckling.com, October 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Vibrant purple colour of good depth, has a lovely spicy bouquet with fresh cherries and raspberries, plus just a hint of leafiness. The palate is lighter in style, yet has lashings of elegant flavours and superb counterbalancing acidity making it ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! This wine can’t be considered as a PINOT NOIR, nor as a SHIRAZ. It is in fact a gorgeous, light-medium bodied dry red which is superb.”
Dan Traucki, August 2022
“I don’t know the percentage (of each variety) but in the glass they’ve got them exactly right. The tang and earthen complexity of pinot noir, the push of red berried/plum-shot shiraz fruit through the centre. It feels both complete and satisfying – in the context that it’s mid-weight at most – with just-enough polish to give it a bit of class. There’s elite winemaking/growing at play here. 92+ Points.”
Campbell Mattinson, The WineFront, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Yarra Valley pinot noir and shiraz show similar dark cherry characteristics. This skilfully blended red combines the best of both varieties. If you enjoy village Côte de Beaune reds, you’ll like this – and the price. 4 Stars.”
Lester Jesberg, Winewise, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“Deep, bright, youthful purple-red colour, the bouquet is blueberry with strong vegetal overtones, stemmy and humus-like, the palate medium bodied and fleshy with abundant soft, fine tannins and good length. An attractive light to medium bodied red which drinks well young, and will no doubt age quite well also. 91 Points.”
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
“…This is a ripper. A wine better suited with food by its side on opening, it showed a softer, more delicate side with time in the glass and on day two and three of tasting.
Dark cherries, undergrowth and dried leaves, the Pinot component really stands up. Scents of purple flowers add prettiness and curiosity. Shiraz adds depth through the mouth with a wash of mulberries, sweet spice and fine black pepper running long. You could get very comfortable here – it’s a great drink. 92 Points.”
Qwine, July 2022 [2021 Vintage]
2021
Winter was wetter and warmer than the 25-year average, building the water table with spring cooler than normal, slowing down the vegetative cycle. These cooler temperatures persisted into summer with some abnormal drenching rains in January adding to the mild temperatures. February witnessed no rain to speak of setting up for a calm harvest through March. The crop was slightly heavier than normal due to January rain although the crunch of natural acidity from a cooler season helped set up good natural fermentation and ultimate wine balance.
Accolades
Accolades
Experience This Wine
This wine could simply be the middle ground when trying to create a light dry red; the place where the nervous tension and acid of the Pinot helps make the spicy, tannic Syrah fundamentally softer and more approachable.
About equal weight of each variety helps make the blend not more than the other, and it is this balance that makes it right for any occasion.
Wild mushroom and burrata bruschetta.
Winter was wetter and warmer than the 25-year average, building the water table with spring cooler than normal, slowing down the vegetative cycle. These cooler temperatures persisted into summer with some abnormal drenching rains in January adding to the mild temperatures. February witnessed no rain to speak of setting up for a calm harvest through March. The crop was slightly heavier than normal due to January rain although the crunch of natural acidity from a cooler season helped set up good natural fermentation and ultimate wine balance.
This wine could simply be the middle ground when trying to create a light dry red; the place where the nervous tension and acid of the Pinot helps make the spicy, tannic Syrah fundamentally softer and more approachable.
About equal weight of each variety helps make the blend not more than the other, and it is this balance that makes it right for any occasion.
Wild mushroom and burrata bruschetta.
Winter was wetter and warmer than the 25-year average, building the water table with spring cooler than normal, slowing down the vegetative cycle. These cooler temperatures persisted into summer with some abnormal drenching rains in January adding to the mild temperatures. February witnessed no rain to speak of setting up for a calm harvest through March. The crop was slightly heavier than normal due to January rain although the crunch of natural acidity from a cooler season helped set up good natural fermentation and ultimate wine balance.