2021 Castagna Un Segreto Syrah Sangiovese, Beechworth

60/40% sangiovese/syrah. Sangiovese takes the lead role, and it’s a commanding presence, laying a dark and savoury groundwork for this new classic Aussie red. It's an exciting style that deserves greater recognition. 'Un segreto' translates to English as 'a secret', and this is definitely one worth sharing, indeed, yelling about. Packed with black cherry, sour cherry, wild strawberry fruits, anise and spice. It rolls along to a lively, juicy tannin beat and a lingering Italian-esque, mineral, earthy, dry savouriness that so perfectly reflects its Beechworth home. The lasting impression is one of elegance and an inherent ability to age further and very well. Drink to 2038.

96 points Jeni Port for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2026

Has the chocolate of shiraz and broken rock and iron filings characteristic of sangiovese. Tannins are very savoury and drying without astringency. A quite individual style of red wine, combining the best of both varieties. Drink to 2036.

93 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, May 2026

Un Segreto moves with a kind of quiet confidence — unhurried, unbothered by fashion, and deeply anchored in its own identity. As a blend of Sangiovese and Syrah, it carries both heritage and adaptation, but in 2021 the two varieties feel less like components and more like a single voice, speaking fluently of place.

The aromatics are immediately compelling, though never overstated. There is a beguiling perfume of red cherry and dried herbs, edged with subtle earth and lifted by fine spice. It draws you in gently, revealing itself in layers rather than declarations. There’s a natural harmony here —nothing sits apart, everything feels considered.

On the palate, the wine is defined by its line and energy. Medium-bodied, it leans into brightness and precision, with a vivid thread of acidity that gives the wine its shape and forward motion. The tannins are firm yet refined, powdery in texture, providing structure without heaviness. They frame the fruit rather than overshadow it.

Fruit expression remains restrained —held in check by the architecture of the wine —allowing savoury notes and a quiet mineral edge to come through. It’s a wine built on tension rather than weight, where the interplay between freshness and structure crea ts both interest and longevity.

With air, Un Segreto opens gradually, revealing further detail and nuance. It’s not immediate, but patient —rewarding those who give it time in the glass.

A composed and expressive wine, where Sangiovese brings its brightness and structure, Syrah its depth and perfume — together forming something complete, balanced, and enduring.