2022 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Syrah

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.

This wine is 95% Syrah with 1.5% Viognier and 3.5% Mourvèdre. 5% whole bunches are included, carefully sourced from among two blocks where the stems turn yellow as ripeness is achieved. Aromatics and tannin complexity result from the whole bunch. 85% of the blend is from the original 1988-planted winery block. 10% is our younger 470 clone which brings more complexity and another dimension to the tannin profile. The 470 also reaches the ripeness we are happy with at slightly lower sugar levels (typically 1.0 Be less sugar), Mourvèdre and co fermented 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 French Oak foudre and a few additional 500-litre puncheons. – Frankland Estate

Cherry, blueberry, toasted peanuts, grilled meat and spice, sage leaf, floral too with some red apple juiciness. It’s medium-bodied, spicy and firm, again that red apple mingles with red and blue fruits, tannin is kind of dusty and dry, but carried well within the overall succulence and perfume of the wine, and the finish is long and dry, and lightly peppery. It’s an expressive and lively Shiraz, and very good it is too. 94 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front March 2024

If the test of a good wine is whether you keep the bottle to drink after tasting and writing a review, then, I passed the test. That peppery freshness was just too hard to resist. It infiltrates, subtly but effectively, almost every aspect to the wine, a fresh, lively background note. Aromas rise in black pepper, blue fruits, black cherry, briar and red liquorice. The wine moves briskly leaving a trail of flavour in its wake in spice and chocolate, black cherry. plums and woodsy, spicy oak notes. Attracts extra points for its cool climate peppery swagger and confidence. 95 points. Jeni Port, WinePilot.com April 2024