Summer Wine Guide 2023

2021 Bekkers Clarendon Syrah

G 97

Medium-deep crimson. Fragrant raspberry pastille, blueberry aromas with hints of marzipan and nougat. Graceful wine with lovely raspberry, red and black cherries, blueberry fruits, fine bittersweet/lacy textures, superb mid-palate viscosity/silkiness and well integrated roasted almond, vanilla notes. Finishes al dente firm with seductive chinotto/ pure fruits and long mineral/quartz acidity. Understated yet beautifully balanced wine with impressive complexity, gentle vigour/vinosity and flawless oak maturation. Refined and exacting wine highlighting the craft of winemaking and the longer growing season of the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale. 2024–2035+ 2021 Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah G 96+ Fragrant bouquet, blueberry, cracked black pepper with beautiful articulation of white flowers. Medium body, hint of toasty vanillin, very good freshness, fine grained tannins displayed, beautiful balance, pitch and excellent length. Still elemental but is already looking very fine. 2022 Kalleske Wines Greenock Shiraz G 96 Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, blackberry praline aromas with roasted chestnut, cinnamon notes. Seductive and powerful concentrated with deep-set pure dark berry fruits, fine supple/velvety tannins, superb roasted chestnut, marzipan notes. Finishes chocolate with refreshing mineral notes. Now–2030 2021 Ox Hardy Slate Shiraz G 96 Deep crimson. A classical McLaren Vale Shiraz with lovely dark cherry, blackberry praline aromas with mineral notes. Inky deep and supple with ample dark cherry, blackberry, hint boysenberry fruits, fine slinky chalky textures and underlying roasted chestnut, liquorice notes. Finishes chalky/minerally with seductive fruit complexity. 2026–2032 2022 Soul Growers Provident Shiraz G 96 Deep crimson. A classic Barossa shiraz with intense dark chocolate, blackberry aromas with underlying marzipan notes. Richly flavoured with deep-set choco-berry flavours, fine supple textures and well integrated marzipan, roasted walnut motes. Finishes chocolaty firm with juicy notes. Should develop very well. Now–2030