2022 Castagna Adam's Rib Nebbiolo Syrah, Beechworth

Castagna Adam's Rib Nebbiolo Syrah from Beechworth is an unconventional and utterly compelling red blend that reflects Julian Castagna’s fearless approach to winemaking. It brings together the structure and aromatics of Nebbiolo with the spice and flesh of Syrah in a way that’s both edgy and elegant, a true original born from Beechworth’s granitic soils and high elevation.

Castagna is a biodynamic estate perched on the foothills of the Victorian Alps, known for crafting wines with authenticity, energy, and a deep sense of place. Adam’s Rib is a wine that challenges tradition while still nodding to the old world. It combines the ethereal perfume and tannin of Nebbiolo with Syrah’s generosity and savoury drive, creating a wine that is wild, textural, and captivating from the first sip.

Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in old French oak, the wine is made with minimal intervention, allowing each variety to speak without being overworked. No fining or filtration keeps the wine honest and alive.

In the glass, expect lifted notes of rose petal, sour cherry, red plum, smoked meat, and dried herbs. The palate is medium bodied and firm, with layered fruit, gritty tannins, spice, and a long, savoury finish. There’s tension and contrast here, yet somehow it all flows together with grace.

Perfect with rare lamb, porcini risotto, or hard cheeses, this is a wine for thinkers and explorers—structured, soulful, and always evolving in the glass.