The ‘Grampians’ was our first wine, the bedrock of our brand, and the wine that everything else pivots around. 2022 was another cool, late and classic ‘Syrah’ year, with harvest dates very similar to those in 2021, but with a fraction of the crop level after a cool, windy flowering period. The Syrah vineyards yielded only around 1.3 tonnes per acre, and as a result the structures are tighter and firmer than the previous year. That said, the fruit expression is definitely in the ‘red’ and ‘spicy’ spectrum, and will benefit from a lot of air in youth and a fair bit of time in the cellar. Malty, cocoa nib oak hints and an abundance of pepper mix with red fruits and deli meats, dried chilli spice and then, with air, the wild herb florals and blue fruits. Mid weight but compact. Coiled. Bang on 50% Westgate Vineyard from 53yr old vines in the hills just south of Great Western and 50% Moyston Hills Vineyard from 23yr old vines much further south at Moyston. All natural ferments, some destemmed and some not (around 27% WB on average, which is a little less than usual due to the abundant natural spicy flavours of the year) matured in a combination of old puncheons and barrique and with around 15% new oak, Chassin cooperage. We also decided against an individual vineyard bottling for Westgate Vineyard Syrah this year, so all the top material went into this wine. Pretty serious bang for buck. I think this one will unfurl slowly.