SWINNEY Farvie Syrah 2018

Robert Parker Score: 96 points

Reviewer: Erin Larkin — June 2024 Week 213 Jun 2024

Drink 2024–2038

The 2018 Farvie Syrah hails from a brilliant season in Western Australia. It was warm and dry but not too warm and not too dry. It was a great year for all varieties and all regions. This is the inaugural release of the Farvie Syrah, which I reviewed upon its release in March 2020. The defining quality that makes this wine great (apart from the vineyard site) is the winemaking and the old large-format French oak that it is matured in. The fruit doesn't take on obvious barrel characters, which allows the inherent delicacy and detail of the site to shine through. The ferruginous quality to the tannins is from the ground that Frankland River is blessed with—deep ironstone gravels and loam—and it is these that the fruit flavors lean upon. It is chalky and layered with rust and black tea, driven by 55% whole bunches in the ferment. There are wisps of blood orange rind, bergamot flowers and tobacco. This is a wholly alluring Syrah that speaks of Frankland River and that beautiful 2018 season. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.