2022 Willem Kurt Syrah, Beechworth

Willem Kurt Syrah from Beechworth is a beautifully structured, cool-climate red that brings Rhône-like elegance to one of Victoria’s most exciting high-altitude wine regions. Grown on the rugged granite soils that define Beechworth, this Syrah is refined, savoury, and full of quiet power—more about spice, perfume, and texture than brute force.

The wine is crafted with a minimalist, hands-off philosophy. Fruit is handpicked from low-yielding vines, wild fermented, and matured in French oak barrels, with a careful balance of new and seasoned wood. A portion of whole bunches is often included in the ferment to add aromatic lift and tannin tension, a nod to traditional northern Rhône methods.

In the glass, it opens with lifted aromas of black cherry, mulberry, cracked pepper, violets, and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant, with silky tannins, a core of dark fruit, savoury spice, and a graphite-like minerality that gives it a distinctly Beechworth backbone. The finish is long, fresh, and finely detailed.

This is Syrah for those who prefer restraint over richness—perfect with chargrilled lamb, duck breast with plum glaze, or earthy mushroom dishes.