Pooley Syrah 2023

Product Information:

Tasmanian Syrah is something to behold, elegant and layered with fine spices. It opens with pungent perfume of red currant, violets and white pepper. The palate is abundant with notes of red cherry, raspberry and cinnamon bark before softening into impressions of confectionary raspberry and smoked charcuterie. The fruit was handpicked and 100% destemmed. It spends 20 days on skins before fermenting and matured for 11 months in French oak puncheons (500 litres) of which 30% was new. Cooperages of barrel were Francois Freres and Vallaurine.

 Maker:

Pooley Wines is a family-owned vineyard that was established in 1985 by Denis and Margaret Pooley, who planted vines on the banks of the Coal River in southern Tasmania. Initially, the vineyard was meant to be a retirement plan for the couple, but it soon turned into a passion project that flourished into a renowned premium cool-climate site. With the help of their son and grandchildren, three generations of the Pooley family have continued to bring meticulous care to their Cooinda Vale vineyard. In 2003, John Pooley and his wife Libby expanded their estate and established a second vineyard, Butcher’s Hill, with its first vintage produced in 2007. The passing of Margaret Pooley in 2010 marked a turning point for the family business, with Margaret’s granddaughter, Anna Pooley, returning to the family business in 2013. From this point onward, Pooley Wines has been made entirely by family hands. Today, more than 35 years after its establishment, Pooley Wines is recognised as one of Australia’s most renowned cool-climate producers. The Halliday Wine Companion awarded Pooley Wines the 2023 Winery of the Year, a testament to the family’s philosophy of making wines that reflect their unique environment while pushing the quality of the grapes and the wines even further. The Coal River Valley produces some of Australia’s finest wines, and Pooley Wines is at the forefront of this prestigious industry.

The Vineyard:

The 2023 growing season started with budburst in September and continued with flowering in November. This year, we experienced a lot of wind and rain during flowering which makes for very challenging conditions. Between October and December 2022, there was 230mm of rainfall at both of our vineyard sites. It resulted in poor fruit set, and an overall reduction in yield for the season. Late December saw the rain disappear, leading away from the La Nina weather pattern and towards a drier, warmer El Nino period. It was a mild summer with no extremes of heat, whilst remaining warm. This is great for steady and slow development of flavour, acid, sugar, and tannin. All the elements that make for great quality wine.

Nose - Five Spice, Blueberry, Cola
Pretty and lifted aromas of blueberry, cherry, white pepper, Asian spice, cola and anise.

Palate - Mid-weight, Plummy, Dried Flowers & Herbs
Mid-weight, textured, layered and mouth-filling. Lashings of blue fruits, satsuma plum, fragrant spice and dried herbs.

Finish - Supple Tannins, Tangy, Cool Spices
The tannins are supple, grainy and deliver shape and the acidity is bright, crunchy and tangy.

Youthful, bright red and vibrant in the glass. Pretty and lifted aromas of blueberry, cherry, white pepper, Asian spice, cola and anise. Mid-weight, textured, layered and mouth-filling. Lashings of blue fruits, satsuma plum, fragrant spice and dried herbs. The tannins are supple, grainy and deliver shape and the acidity is bright, crunchy and tangy. A lovely, cool climate shiraz with real presence and drive. - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, 95 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%