It’s not often that an Australian wine opts for the “Syrah” moniker over the more used “Shiraz,” and this bottling makes me curious whether the choice was made as pure market differentiation, or if the softer character made it stand out from the rest of the lineup. Black and blue fruit character is carried by chalky tannins, and though it’s moderately extracted, it’s not shy on flavor. There’s just a hint of the signature menthol, and stylistically, everything is working. Serve this where you might be thinking Grenache but want a little more weight.
Vintage Longbottom, Adelaide Hills (Australia) Syrah 2019
By Rich Cook