2023 Dappled Single Vineyard Fin de la Terre Syrah
WINEMAKER: Shaun Crinion
REGION: Yarra Valley, VIC
VARIETY: Syrah
VITICULTURE: Sustainable
“These wines are all hailing from the cool and later ripening 23’ vintage, and they show the positive effects of this long cool ripening season. In this release, we have 3 reds and one Chardonnay, and due to tiny yields again there is no SV Yarra Pinot Noir (which all went into the last Appellation release). Stylistically the reds are fragrant and pure with fine acidity, and the Chardonnay is simply stunning - similar to the 2019 vintage.” - Shaun Crinion
Sourced from the Peirce Family vineyard in Steels Creek at the base of the Kinglake range. It’s a warm site with hungry mudstone and shale soils with a granitic bedrock base and some scattered quartz. The vines are own rooted and planted in 1990 - so now 34 years old!
A very late pick and coupled with low yields has resulted in tiny quantities of this wine. It is a more delicate and pure rendition with almost a Pinot-esque charm to it. Bosting strikingly pure red fruits with alpine herbs, it's medium to light bodied and full of charm and finesse. The texture is just beautiful on the palate after spending almost 18 months on lees.
Despite their fame, Shaun’s releases still remain tiny due a lack of suitable fruit. Obviously, it goes without saying that he is fastidious about the fruit he sources, as evidenced by the quality of these wines year after year. The other thing that remains important to Shaun is that his wines remain accessible. Despite the increasing costs of fruit and production and regardless of the effort, and rarity, the wines are priced to offer some of the best value for money in Australian wine today.