2024 Hughes + Hughes Syrah, Southern Tasmania

Hughes + Hughes Syrah from Southern Tasmania is a beautifully refined and expressive cool climate red that highlights the precision and creativity of brothers Jonny and Matt Hughes. Crafted with minimal intervention and great respect for the fruit, it captures the balance, fragrance and energy that define Tasmania’s new wave of Syrah. Elegant rather than heavy, it showcases the variety’s spicy, perfumed side rather than sheer power, making it one of the region’s most captivating and distinctive wines.

The fruit is sourced from select vineyards in Southern Tasmania, where the long, cool growing season allows slow ripening and gentle flavour development. The grapes are hand picked and partially fermented as whole bunches with wild yeasts, bringing lift and savoury complexity. Maturation takes place in seasoned French oak for about ten months, adding subtle spice and texture without overwhelming the purity of the fruit.

In the glass it shows a deep ruby colour with violet hues. The aroma is vibrant and alluring, with notes of wild blackberry, mulberry, cracked pepper and violet, underpinned by hints of olive tapenade and spice. The palate is silky and medium bodied, showing pure red and black fruit intertwined with savoury herbs, pepper and mineral tones. The tannins are fine and chalky, and the finish is long and graceful, reflecting both the restraint of the winemaking and the cool Tasmanian climate.

Hughes + Hughes Syrah pairs beautifully with lamb cutlets, duck, chargrilled vegetables or mushroom dishes. It also suits hard cheeses and peppered steak. Enjoy it young for its energy and perfume, or cellar for up to eight years to reveal deeper savoury notes and more earthy complexity.