2021 Swinney 'Farvie' Mourvedre
The 2021 Farvie Wines are available on allocation.
Erin Larkin, robertparker.com, April 23
"The 2021 Farvie Mourvèdre is the first iteration of a varietal Mourvèdre in the Farvie range since its inception in 2018. In the glass, the wine is light—one can almost see through it. It is light to medium-bodied, sure, but shaped by gritty, firm, tight-knit tannins. My first feeling is that this has a Barolo edge to it, which I find both deeply interesting and pleasurable at once. It is fine, floral and firm. There are notes of rose petals, tar, grit, resin, tobacco leaf, mulberry leaf and white pepper. The length unfurls in the mouth and is reminiscent of mineral European reds—Piedmonte over Chateauneuf-du-Pape, if I had to choose one for reference. This is fresh, vital, exciting and modern, an exceptional wine. Let it grow on you, because grow it will." 98/100
Matthew Jukes, www.matthewjukes.com, May 23
"The nose is terrific here, mobbed with mulberries, cloves, plums and wild cherries, and then, at once, without warning, you are in an elevator plummeting down below ground where you find ironstone, gravel, bitterness, smokiness and raw meaty malevolence. This is a spectacular wine with drama and dynamism, and it takes over the senses and guides you through its chapters of flavour. There are discreet Bandol references here, but they are red, not black, and while I try to find synergies between this elite Mourvèdre and the finest incarnations of this grape on the planet, I find myself distracted by Nebbiolo skin traction, Morey-Saint-Denis flesh and Mencía coolness. The soil, microclimate, proximity to the ocean and Frankland River sunshine all conspire to make this a genuinely unique wine, and I cannot think of a more delicious or complete Mourvèdre on earth. The acidity alone sets it apart from all Bandols, as does the purity of fruit and the silkiness, and the stems allow the flavours to transcend any other wines I have tasted made from this epic variety because they provide the unbreakable lattice work on which the fruit is laid out. Texturally this is pure silk. It is only a couple of years old, but it can be enjoyed already, and I feel that 90+% of its skills are already on display, but it will continue to evolve over a decade. This is another game-changer at Swinney, and I cannot wait for the 2022 and 2023 – let’s hope they can make more than just one barrel of this celestial wine." 98/100
Ray Jordan, WA Business News, June 2023
"Savoury aromatic black fruit characters. Almost a stewed fruit character on the nose but it’s not overdone. It's real fruit that you are getting here. Great mouth feel and texture with a lively gravelly tannin. The palate is focused and precise and is very much In the Old World style. The leaner soils of the vineyard contribute to its distinctive slaty and minerally characters. Its structure will support ageing. Make sure you give it a decent splash if you intend drinking it now." 98/100