2023 Lambert Syrah, Yarra Valley

Dark cherry and blue fruits, plenty of spice, black olive and grilled meat. It’s medium-bodied, spicy and perfumed, meaty too, with a surprisingly intense burst of ‘minerally’ acidity through its core. Tannin is all crushed rock and sooty goodness, and the finish is long and savoury and stalky. Very good.

95 points Gary Walsh winefront.com.au

Luke has found a new dimension with Syrah from Denton. The doyen of Californian Syrah, Pax Mahle, told us he recently picked blind a Lambert Syrah as a top-level Côte-Rôtie. This gives you an idea of the vivid, savoury Rhône-like appeal Luke craves in his wine (and is now achieving). It also reminds us how lucky we are to have such a gifted winemaker on our doorstep. This captivating release is possibly even better than the excellent 2022. Picked four weeks later than in 2022, Lambert prefers the cooler, later seasons—believing his Syrah attains greater depth and detail, including the brooding, spicy traits he craves. The Syrah grows on the sunnier western side of Denton towards the top of the slope, where soil is thin and yields low.

This year, 80% bunches were included. In the crucial early days of vinification, Rosalind foot stomps the ferments three times a day to ensure each berry is quickly but gently popped, maximising the juice’s exposure to skins and stalks. Ferments are fast, and the wine is promptly pressed, settled and racked to 5000-litre foudre for maturation. Expect bright perfume, spice and dark berries woven through delicious earthy, stony elements. It’s slick, expressive and super long; world-class Syrah at an attainable price!