2021 Castagna Genesis Syrah, Beechworth

Bold and complex. You are entering into serious syrah territory, brought to you by one of Beechworth’s more celebrated vintages. Aromas of dark fruits, black berries, blue fruits and licorice come with a lifted spiciness that entices. A ripe amalgam of flavour resides here, where blueberries, dark spices and hints of oak and earth are invested in fine tannins and carried by a boldness of overall delivery. An enticing sour-cherry-influenced savouriness awaits on the palate. Beautifully constructed; this is a wine that should age effortlessly and with grace. Drink to 2041.

97 points (Special Value) Jeni Port for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2026

Deep shiraz colour, starting to develop some tawny in the edges; lots of earthy, broken rock, bayleaf and star anise on the nose; palate full of delightful fruit sweetness, the core swaddled in ripe, supple tannins. The wine has profited from its five years of age, building complexity and fleshy softness. Drink to 2041.

95 points Huon Hooke for the Real Review, May 2026

The 2021 Genesis Syrah arrives as a cooler, quieter articulation of the variety — one that leans into restraint, detail, and a sense of place rather than overt power. The season has shaped a wine of composure and clarity, where nothing feels forced and eve rything seems to sit in its natural rhythm.

Aromatic lift opens on dark cherry and black olive, underpinned by a gentle ironstone edge that feels distinctly site-driven. There are layers of subtlety here —violet, dried herbs, and fine spice —all woven together with a savoury thread that runs deep and steady. It’s not a wine that announces itself loudly, but one that invites attention.

On the palate, it sits in a medium-bodied frame, defined by tannins that are fine, persistent, and quietly structural. They guide rather than dominate, giving shape without weight. A line of natural acidity moves through the wine with precision, holding everything in balance and lending energy to its progression across the palate.

There is a tautness here — something sinewed and alive — that speaks more to thoughtful farming and careful listening than to intervention. It feels grown rather than made, with an ease and integrity that reflects both the vineyard and the season.

Given time in the glass, the wine continues to open and shift, revealing further nuance and texture. It breathes rather than unfolds, evolving gently without losing its composure.

A Syrah of finesse and quiet authority, where place is the defining voice.