2021 The Lane Reunion Shiraz

96 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

Combining richness and elegance, the wine presents aromas of blackberry, blueberry, olive, warm spice, and hazelnut on the nose, followed by a wonderfully weighted palate filled with ripe fruit intensity, complemented by spicy nuances, and culminating in a persistent, plush finish.

95 POINTS

Jeni Port - Winepilot

There is a presence here, one marked by notable concentration and depth. Reunion is grounded, quite literally, in the earth with autumnal, undergrowth notes among the dark berries and spice. It is convincingly ripe in blackberry and dark plum, which brings the role of some expensive and most attractive French oak into play, contributing fine-grained tannins that glide long through the finish. The weight and concentration of fruit is possibly more what we expect of Shiraz rather than Syrah, but that’s a pleasant debate to have over such a wine. Quality speaks more than mere name alone. Seamless and all too drinkable now, it will continue to build some beguiling complexity.

94 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

A quite tightly wound and compact expression of syrah, with dark cherry, mocha, fennel and mint, touches of warmed, brown spice and hazelnut in the perfume and palate. The slippery texture is very appealing, a light tightening of tannins a gentle shadow to the layers of complex and vibrant fruit and spice flavours. A touch of complexing reduction also features, a minerally whiff and lick over the wine. It feels like a wine quite pent-up and needing time to relax, so keep that in mind, by decanter or cellar. Good gear here, though.

93 POINTS

Kasia Sobiesiak - The Wine Front

Reductive start, then plenty of bright crunchy red cherries and black pepper with toast and smoked meat. There’s a strong meaty element with rubbed-on herbs like sage and thyme with licks of nutmeg and some caramel/vanilla oak. It’s quite perky and refreshing, a bit chewy and creamy somewhere on the way to a solid finish. It’s a noteworthy expression, a bit predictable but quite satisfying.