Bekkers, Syrah, McLaren Vale, South Australia, 2015

Bekkers’ genesis was the result of a chance meeting between youthful French winemaker, Emmanuelle, and Australian viticulturist, Toby - now one of Australia’s most respected authorities on organics and biodynamics. They have visited some of Europe's top producers, gleaning precious knowledge and advice. This Shiraz is Bekkers’ flagship wine, a dovetailing of fruit from two different vineyards. The fermentation is kicked off by native yeasts, and afterwards the wine is matured for 20 months in 500 litre French puncheons, 40% new. TIna Gellie: An excellent balance of fresh cherry fruit and vibrant acidity here, lively and lipsmacking! Integrated sweet oak and a hint of tobacco spice sit alongside a refreshing herbal character and fine fruit tannins. Roger Jones: Very bright in acidity, with cherries, frangipane and soft vanilla oak. This needs time, but evolves beautifully in the glass; the cherries get riper, and there is a lovely softness to the wine. Anthony Rose: Vibrant fresh fruit aromas show lots of energy, as if some whole-bunch pressing has been going on, delivering a slight stalky element. Overall the picture is bright, with lots of vivacious black cherry and kirsch fruit in a seamlessly textured, albeit still elementally youthful red.