Description
“The sheer quality of the wines he makes is equalled only by his consistency” James Halliday.
BEST VALUE WINERY OF THE YEAR IN JAMES HALLIDAY’S AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2020
When I met winemaker Bruce Dukes from Domaine Naturaliste I was bowled over by how striking every wine was that I tasted in his lineup … A rare occurrence when you’re tasting wines every day.
The success did not happen by accident. He has an intimate knowledge of all the terroirs of Margaret River after spending 25 years honing his craft with leading Margaret River producers such as Pierro wines. He is a trained agronomist and has a Masters in viticulture and Oenology from U.C. Davis … he also worked for 4 years at Neibaum Coppola in Napa, USA. Bruce seeks freshness of fruit, perfume, texture, overall balance, restraint with low to moderate alcohol in all his beautiful wines. Domaine Naturaliste is named after the northern most Cape of Margaret River, Cape Naturaliste, where the winery is situated. Minuscule production of top shelf wines across the board.
About this vintage from the winemaker “A dry and sun-drenched summer in 2020 led to fantastic fertility, perfectly moderated by a mild winter and a long cool spring. A hot and dry start to summer 2021 led to beautiful vine growth, followed by a cool ripening season with sporadic summer rains. The resultant wines are characterised by intense aromatics, coating natural acidity, and ultra-fine tannin and tension. Syrah is picked at moderate ripeness to retain elegance and natural acidity. Whole berries are cool fermented atop whole bunches (25%) at 20 to 22 oC resulting in a subtle aromatic lift and introducing a wilder spice element to the otherwise pure Syrah perfume. A cool climate, medium bodied and balanced Syrah.
“Margaret River Syrah is noteworthy because of its fragrance and attractiveness in it’s youth. Aromas of juicy black cherries and boysenberries with a grind of black pepper. The palate possesses a fine grained texture comprising of ripe tannin which adds to the structure and depth of the wine.”
91 points, James Suckling “A spicy and meaty nose of white pepper, grilled herbs and black cherries. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Juicy and fresh with a leafy finish. Drink now.”
94 points, Jane Falkner, for Halliday Wine Companion “Since this is aged in used French oak for 10 months, all the flavours are bright, spicy and unfettered by cedary, charry oak. An array of dark plums, pepper and sumac with supple ripe tannins sashay across the mid-weighted palate with everything refreshed by the tingly acidity. A very good drink now option.”
RRP $29 Our Price $25.99
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