Winemaker Notes
20 years on from Tyrrell’s first plantings in Heathcote. The grapes were harvested in the cool of the night at less than 12°C and transported to the Hunter Valley for vinification. Fermented for 2 weeks at the family’s winery. The co-fermented Viognier (2%) adds lift and mid-palate roundness. 24 months in French oak barriques to mature and soften with 10% new oak to add lift and subtle structure. A darker, more restrained release after the opulent 2013 vintage. All of the hallmarks of classic Victorian Shiraz with an aromatic profile encompassing all of the spice cupboard, with the typical white pepper for which Heathcote is renowned. The palate shows an abundance of dark fruit with lovely integration between the French oak and acid. Drinking incredibly well on release, will age well in the medium term.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Black cherry and savory notes have rosemary and sage accents, with fresh, vibrant acidity and tannins that firm up on the finish. Shows good intensity and follow-through. Drink now through 2026.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Historically some of Australia’s most lucrative gold country, today Heathcote maintains its esteemed reputation as a source of country’s best red wines. The rolling countryside of ancient reddish brown soils bordered by mountain ranges that funnel cool air into the region during the growing season create some of Australia’s most deeply-hued and impressively layered Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.