2018 Castagna Genesis Syrah, Beechworth

Deep red with a good tint of purple and a perfumed bouquet which suggests whole-bunch fermentation and a little viognier. Violet, rose and other flowers are adding to red and darker fruits, and an array of spices including clove, star anise and pepper. An elegant and stylish red wine that carves its own path through the shiraz jungle. (Just 2% viognier) 20 JUL 2022 Drink 2022–2034

96 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Single vineyard – made from 1850 Rhone Valley massal selected cuttings with wild yeast fermentation with minimal sulphites. There’s some viognier in here, but the main stay is BD grown and made shiraz off the home farm at Castagna.
It’s a mix of red and dark berries, clove-laden and given detail with scents of paperbark tree bark, and flavours of spicy salumi. It’s at once meaty, berried and savoury with earthy, brambly things. Indeed, when I write that, it feels like I should say ‘my kinda shiraz’ as a qualifier. Standing back a bit, the wine feels a touch skittish, tannin a little gummy rather than fine, not quite comfortable as a sum of whole, a bit breathy likewise, but in all that, a bit of potency, oomph and strong character that will charm many and the fruit feels like it has detail and complexity in spades. Cellar time should reward.

93+ points Mike Bennie winefront.com.au JUL 2022 Alc 14%

For me Genesis is indisputably the finest Syrah in the country. An impeccably poised paradigm of eminent drinkability and exceptional taste. Biodynamic certification is one thing, but the detail infused by life’s experiences, far and wide, drinking the world’s great wines, is another...

Ned Goodwin MW

The 2018 Genesis is both complex and savoury; a very elegant wine. It is medium-bodied, yet with great length and a very expressive bouquet of spice – cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise – together with cedary nuances, which add complexity. It is very stylish with hints of charcuterie – very nice.

Julian Castagna

Drawn from one of Australia’s most distinctive cool climate sites, this Syrah reflects the wild, granite strewn slopes of Beechworth and Castagna’s long commitment to biodynamic farming. Castagna is a true pioneer in the region, with vineyards planted on ancient granite soils that naturally deliver savoury detail, fine tannin and striking aromatic lift. The Genesis Syrah leans into a northern Rhône inspired style, prioritising perfume, spice and structure over sheer weight, allowing site and season to shape the wine’s personality.

The colour is a deep crimson with purple hues. Aromas are intensely perfumed, showing blackberry, black cherry and blueberry, layered with violets, cracked black pepper, dried herbs and subtle smoked meat notes. The palate is medium to full bodied, with dark fruit depth balanced by bright acidity and fine, grippy tannins that give length and tension. There is a savoury, mineral edge through the finish, very much a signature of Beechworth granite, adding seriousness and excellent food appeal. Superb with grilled lamb, slow cooked beef, duck, mushroom dishes and spice driven cuisine. Drinking beautifully now with air, it will cellar confidently for ten to fifteen years, evolving toward more earthy, leathery and savoury complexity.