Swinney Frankland River Syrah 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. Swinney is a family-run winery in Western Australia, located in the Frankland River region. Founded in the late 1990s, its origins actually date back over a century, when the family settled in the area to raise sheep and cattle. Today, the farm spans approximately 6,000 acres and is managed by Matt and George Swinney. The Shiraz grapes, including clones 171 and 470, are sourced from the prized plots Wilson's Pool and Powderbark in the Frankland River, on gravelly iron soils. After manual harvesting and spontaneous fermentation (with about a fifth of the bunches remaining whole), the finished wine ages in large oak barrels for 11 months before bottling. In the glass, the wine reveals a dense, deep color with purplish hues. Its aromatic profile is vibrant and complex, with notes of berries and plums interspersed with pepper, black olive tapenade, and wild violet, finishing with hints of smoke and flint. On the palate, it is soft, generous, and concentrated. It has smooth tannins and a lively, refreshing acidity. It has a full body and a distinctive minerality. The finish is long, broad, and persistent. Try it with braised beef cheek or a rib-eye steak.