Timo Mayer Syrah 2023

Timo Mayer farms steep, high vineyards in the Yarra Valley and makes his Syrah in a deliberately cool-climate style, leaner and more peppery than the ripe Shiraz of warmer Australian regions. The vines grow on deep red volcanic soils at altitude, where cool nights and a wide diurnal range hold back ripeness, keeping alcohol moderate at around 13 percent and preserving acidity and the variety's savoury aromatics. The wine is organically farmed and fermented with a high proportion of whole bunches. The included stems reinforce the cracked-pepper character and add freshness and fine tannin, a technique long associated with northern Rhône Syrah. Eleven months in foudre, the large old oak cask, allows gentle oxygen exchange that rounds the texture while adding almost no wood flavour, keeping the fruit and pepper to the fore. The wine is deep ruby, with red and black fruit, cracked black pepper, black olive, dried herbs and a smoky, earthy undertone. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, the tannins fine, the finish savoury and long. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees in a standard glass with grilled meats, lamb or game.