By Farr Shiraz 2020
$103.99
LIMITED. Cool climate Syrah. 97 points, The Real Review.
7 in stock
Description
Gary Farr is one of Australia’s Pinot pioneers and knows more about Pinot than anyone! He began at Bannockburn wines in the 80’s and with his son Nick (combined) they have done 20 vintages at Domaine Dujac in Morey-St-Denis in Burgundy. Their vineyard (planted in 1994) is located at Bannockburn (near Geelong) and planted on volcanic soils over limestone. Their winemaking influence is very Burgundian (natural yeast, whole bunch fermentation and long maceration for the reds) to produce wines that reflect their terroir with pure primary fruit characters and savoury depth, structure and longevity. I regard their Pinots and Chardonnay as up there with the best in land. …Their wines are rated in the Top Ten wines in their categories every year in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion.
Shiraz fruit comes from the original By Farr vineyard, planted in 1994. It lies on a north-facing slope, and the red volcanic soil has a base of limestone with deep-set sandstone.
All fruit is hand-picked from the VSP trellising, with 20 per cent left as whole bunches in the fermentation. Most years we co-ferment between 2 and 4 per cent viognier with the shiraz, the date determining whether or not the former is co-fermented and bled back. It is a natural fermentation, with the fruit remaining in the tank for 19 days before pressing. Shiraz sees 18 months in French oak, 20 per cent being new, and is bottled under vacuum.
In 2020 Nick Farr was named Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year, followed up by the winery taking out Huon Hooke’s Real Review “Top Australian Winery for 2022”. 2020 had many challenges (covid lockdowns aside!) – the red vintage was tiny and down more than 50%! But these reds as Nick Farr says are precise, fine and beautifully balanced.
Nick’s review of the 2020 vintage – “The bottled wines are precise and fine. The reds to be released in 2022 have poise about their structure. The whites are complex and approachable. As light and fresh wines they are perfectly balanced. All that we can ask of our vineyards, is that they speak and express their soil attributes, the growing conditions of that particular year, and classic variety characteristics. We are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to harvest our fruit, as there were many that where extremely affected by fire, smoke or frost. During the coming years these wines will need to be tasted in a quiet corner to reflect how they came about. So much to reflect on, and all in the same year that the winery secured its second ‘Winemaker of the Year’ award as a family.”
About this wine: Think plum and ripe cherries and then a bag of spice and pepper. The palate is soft and slinky, a velvet like texture holding together a summer pudding like aroma palette. Wonderfully savoury and aromatic at the same time. Whilst Pinot Noir takes the limelight at By Farr, you would do yourself a great disservice to not think this is some of the very best Shiraz being made in Australia, and as such, terrifically undervalued.
97 points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review “The Farr family have been making wine for over four decades and are most renowned for fabulous chardonnay and pinot noir from the Geelong region, but their shiraz can quite comfortably sit at the top of the list as well. This is a really pretty, powerful and fabulous expression of shiraz. There’s wild fragrance and exotica from the 20% whole bunch fermentation and a small percentage of co-fermented viognier adds to the complexity and perfume.
“Youthful and bright in the glass. Beautiful, lifted aromas of blueberry, spice, cola, sap, nutmeg oak and dried flowers. Mid-weight, bright and lively on the palate, full of blue fruits, spice, bramble and briar. There’s real purity and poise and the tannins and acidity are en pointe. Absolutely delicious!”
Our Price $103.99 VERY LIMITED.
Additional information
Producer | By Farr |
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Region or Country | Australia, Geelong |
Variety | Shiraz |
Vintage | 2020 |
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