2021 Swinney 'Farvie' Syrah
The 2021 Farvie Wines are available on allocation.
Erin Larkin, robertparker.com, April 23
"The 2021 Farvie Syrah is lighter and finer than the Mourvèdre, yet it is darker in the glass and more mouthfilling. I suppose, in some ways, the flavor profile here is more expected, yet the tannic structure of the thing is more refined and sleek than I have seen in previous vintages. There are notes of blackberry, star anise, iodine, blueberry, licorice and a slash of bone broth. It also has black pepper and aniseed, but not in the warm-climate framework that we are used to seeing/experiencing from regions like Barossa or McLaren Vale. It is odious to compare, I concede, but important from a contextual standpoint. This is Frankland, with its own signature. Syrah continues to be sourced from the two blocks—Powderbark and Wilsons Pool, both home to the WA clone—the Houghton massal selection. This saw no new oak (as per usual), and comes in at a very modest 13.5% alcohol. It is a profoundly elegant wine now, but it will only be better, more complex, more svelte and more complete as time wears on." 97+/100
Matthew Jukes, www.matthewjukes.com, May 23
"I have tasted all of the back vintages of Farvie Syrah, so I have a firmly held frame of reference for this wine. This means this is a cooler and more classically-shaped vintage within a relatively cool wine-growing region. Picked from the very best parcels of fruit, the flavours are pristine, with elevated herbal details and mouth-watering mintiness. Again, an iron-rich, bloody core to this elemental wine pins your palate down while it strides around, purposefully making itself heard. This is a medium-weight wine with so much expression and buoyancy that it comes across as refreshing and uplifting. Then, the tannins come in and nip away at your taste buds, adding salinity and tension. A little behind the Mourvèdre in terms of drinking, this is a stunning Farvie Syrah, and I anticipate it will need a couple of years to find its true equilibrium. Refined, smooth, timeless and cultured, this is a stellar interpretation of this noble grape, and it perfectly conveys its character with magnificent control and uncommon immediacy. " 19/20
Ray Jordan, WA Business News, June 23
"Has a high-end black pepper and perfume character with a little Chinese five-spice character on the nose. A beautiful medium-weight palate which is effortlessly long and precise. Elegant, fine-boned tannin sync with the black fruits. No new oak has been used and the aim is clearly to capture the essence of Frankland, which it does. It is probably the most immediately approachable of the Farvies so far with its harmony and softness. There is a brilliance and vibrancy about it." 98/100