Place of Changing Winds Heathcote Syrah No. 1 2018

“Formerly known as Graillot. This is the first vintage made at the new Place of Changing Winds winery. This has come along nicely over the past few months. It’s low-ish in alcohol but it packs a punch; it’s certainly not light on for flavour. It’s peppery and twiggy, a little vegetal, a lot meaty. There’s a core of cherry and a spray of florals. When you first open it things seem just a little tannic for their own good, but as it breathes it falls closer to balance. Indeed it’s the kind of wine where your impression keeps shifting. At the tasting bench I was in two minds; at the dinner table I was far more convinced. Rated: 92+ Points. Drink : 2020 - 2026+.” Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.

I drank a bottle of this over Easter (seemed to be quite a lot of bottles opened over Easter) with a big lamb chop and a couple of sausages on the BBQ. A perfect wine for the moment – a juicy plum and cherry centre with lots of savoury, dry underbrush and briar notes at the edges. The wine gobbles up the charry BBQ notes. Highly recommended as a value wine from Heathcote – it may not be Jasper Hill but at half the price its pretty good. Ian Cook, FWC