Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Best known for its Hunter Valley wines, the Tyrrell family also farms a 65-acre vineyard in Heathcote, planted in 1994 on the region’s Cambrian soil. Those vines produced a massive 2013 shiraz, its earthy, black-mineral tannins giving way to tart cherry and dark, sanguine-salty flavors. For all its size and smokiness, it retains freshness, structured to age.
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.