2023 Smith Cullam Syrah
Only made in exceptional years this Syrah is a homage to our parents Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam who had the foresight to plant our vineyard in 1988. Fruit for this wine was sourced from the original east west facing “Winery Block” planted on Isolation Ridge in 1988. 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. 110 dozen made.
- A small parcel from the original east-west facing Winery Block, planted in 1988.
- All destemmed Houghton clone; one open fermenter, 12 days on skins, then two one-year-old puncheons on lees.
- Violets, black cherry and blood plum with a stony, firm core; 110 dozen made.
- Size
- 750mL
- Type
- Red
- Varietal
- Syrah
Vineyard
Viticulture
A very profound vintage for Frankland River. A very wet and cold winter, was followed by a cool and wet spring which wet the soil profile all the way through, providing ideal conditions for good growth and fruit set on the vines. Drier conditions from December onwards with nice warm days without being hot allowed the vines to carry a good crop through to harvest. Fruit for this wine was harvested on the 23rd of April. The long hangtime rewarded grapes of lovely maturity and flavour.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
There is plenty of vibrancy here in colour and aroma: violets, maraschino, black cherry, peach, blood plum and biscotti, yet the impression is also stony and taut, with notions of concrete, graphite and ironstone.
Palate
The entry is plush and velvety, but again, the ironstone element is assertive in its stony, ferrous purity and firm core. There’s excellent fruit intensity and substance to the midpalate and finish, maybe a more Hermitage-like muscularity allied to cool, rippling layers of dark fruit, pepper, tapenade and pressed blue flowers. This is a Syrah of calm, flowing authority that is lovely to drink right now and promises a very exciting future.
Winemaking
Wine Making
Only made in exceptional vintages, the last was made in 2020. A small parcel of our finest Shiraz from the original Winery Block was fermented in one open fermenter and pressed to two one year old French Puncheons after 12 days on skins. Matured on lees, the puncheons bring a bit more density and concentration over time compared to the foudre’s brightness in Isolation Ridge Syrah. This wine has no Viognier co fermented and is all de stemmed fruit from the Houghton's Heritage clone.
Certifications
Certified Organic | Vegan Friendly
Critics
- 97 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
- 96 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Distributed in Australia by Principal Wine.