2022 Bekkers Syrah Grenache, McLaren Vale

54/46% Seaview/Clarendon, with some ferments de-stemmed but not crushed and some half whole bunches (a total of 19% in the finished wine); matured in French oak puncheons, with 56% new. Once liberated by air, and like the syrah grenache, this is relatively approchable for this address. Pleasingly so, mind you. There’s raspberry confiture, dark cherry, blackberry, violet, oyster shell and the gentle toasty char of classy and well-integrated oak. Everything is so neatly in place, fleet of foot, but it has gravitas, and with plenty of years ahead of it, too.

96 points Marcus Ellis winecompanion.com.au

Deep red-purple colour with a terracotta/dry earth overtone. Rich, full-bodied and plush flavour on palate, with very soft, fine tannins that caress the tongue. Chocolate, roasted meats and some lovely spicy touches come through as well. A stylish shiraz. 02 Aug 2024 Drink 2024–2039

96 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Bekkers Syrah Grenache from McLaren Vale is a beautifully balanced, Rhône-inspired blend that showcases the elegance, finesse and regional clarity this celebrated husband-and-wife team has become known for. Toby Bekkers brings decades of experience in McLaren Vale viticulture, while Emmanuelle Bekkers, trained in Bordeaux, brings a precise, textural winemaking style that focuses on purity, restraint and natural expression. Together, they produce wines that are quietly powerful, incredibly polished, and always expressive of place.

The Syrah Grenache blend comes from select parcels across McLaren Vale, including the higher-elevation, sandy soils of Blewitt Springs and the iron-rich sites of Seaview. These subregions contribute perfume, structure and mineral tension, with dry-grown old vines lending depth and concentration. Fruit is farmed using sustainable and organic practices, with a clear focus on vine health and soil vitality.

Syrah brings spice, savoury complexity and fine tannins, while Grenache adds aromatic lift, red fruit vibrancy and a silken mouthfeel. Fermentation takes place in small open fermenters with gentle extraction, and the wine is matured in a combination of large-format French oak and seasoned barrels to support the fruit without dominating it.

In the glass, it’s fragrant and expressive, with aromas of violet, raspberry coulis, black cherry, white pepper and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, layered with red and black fruits, subtle spice and savoury graphite notes. There’s a tension and seamlessness to the structure that speaks to careful blending and site selection. The finish is long, precise and mouth-watering, with beautifully integrated tannins and a lingering mineral line.

Pair it with slow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel, duck breast with plum glaze, or chargrilled mushrooms and rosemary. Drink now for its freshness and charm, or cellar for 8 to 10 years to see its savoury complexity evolve.