Swinney Syrah 2025

96 POINTS

Ray Jordan

The boldest and richest of the Rhône triumvirate of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre. The colour is a deep inky red. The nose is an intense and engaging spicy plum and dark chocolate combination. And then a palate that is both structured and supple, with a fine thread of mineral, ironstone tannins, some well-weighted, understated oak and stacks of plush, lush fruit. Scrumptious, delicious wine.

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

Stunning stuff, especially when you remember that this is not even their flagship Shiraz (or Syrah, if they must). From their Wilson’s Pool and Powderbark Vineyards, the team employ the use of whole bunches as well as native yeasts for fermentation and maturation is in large format French oak with just a touch new. Frankland River shows just how well suited to Shiraz it is, yet again. Opaque maroon with a vibrant crimson/purple rim, this is youthful but intense. We have aromas of plums, blackberries, coffee grinds, blueberries, dried herbs, cassis, licorice and chocolate. Bold and expressive, the texture is supple and seductive, the structure seamless and the wine alluring. There is great length here, with a juicy energetic finish and silky tannins. Wonderful stuff and will remain so for at least the next ten to fifteen years. Amazing value.

95 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

This delivers on the promise of the syrah moniker. It opens with gamey notes and Italianate herbal whiffs, dark cherry, woody spices and a hint of white pepper. The medium-weight palate is inky, quite rich yet lively, with more game meat, forest berries, a liberal dusting of white pepper, and truffle notes chiming in, too. There's a building grip of fine yet succulent tannin, a graphite note amongst that. Add this all up, and you've a very fine expression of syrah, unapologetically savoury and tannin-hewn, which is great, really.

95 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

You say Syrah, I say Shiraz, though interestingly, quite a few Hunter Valley winemakers pronounce Shiraz in a similar way to Syrah. We won’t start on the way a lot of them say Semillon. This is meaty, spicy, peppery and perfumed, though it also presents in a pure and clean style. Medium-bodied, blue fruits and cherry, spice, dried herbs and liquorice, a graphite grip to tannin, fresh acidity, closing with a grainy sooty feel and excellent length. Top shelf. A great release of this wine.

94 POINTS

Cyndal Petty - Winepilot

A marvellously dense (inky even) yet aromatically pretty, cool climate Syrah. Boysenberries, mulberries and liquorice. It smells bloody good. In the mouth, it is bound tight, the black fruits tart and detailed. There’s also a savoury, slightly ferrous undertone of plum skins, lead pencil and pressed violets. The tannins are charged and squeaky, the acid vibrant, and the overall vibe, classy.