Critics reviews
By Farr Shiraz 2022 critic scores Deep and bright red-purple hue; earthy savoury pepper/spice and dried-herb aromas, the palate intense and brightly focused, driving and long, with great depth of cool-grown shiraz flavour and tremendous elegance. Fruit sweetness is deep in the core and this is balanced beautifully by well-judged tannins. An outstanding shiraz and a gorgeous drink.
Drink 2024 - 2039
Huon Hook, The Real Review (September 2024)
About this WINE
By Farr and Farr Rising Wines
Gary Farr is a truly legendary winemaker; he was responsible for taking Bannockburn in Geelong to startling heights as one of the benchmark producers of Burgundian varieties in the country. His own label, By Farr, is quite simply one of Australia's finest. From their base in Geelong, around 80 kilometres southwest of Melbourne, Gary Farr and his son Nick make small quantities of single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that rank with Australia’s best wines.
The original property was purchased by Gary and Robyn Farr back in 1994. It has since seen many new additions stretching the size of the estate to a total of 130 acres, of which 36 acres are under vine and the remainder is maintained as grazing and cropping for cattle and horses. The estate is run exactly as you would a Burgundian Domaine, with the winery at the heart of the vineyards, gravity fed with pressing and tanks at ground level and barrels and bottles underground. The winemaking and commitment to such large percentage of both new oak and whole bunch is similar to the Domaine Dujac “recipe” (as well as DRC), and they use the same cooper for all their barrels.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
This is a sophisticated cool-climate Shiraz with a distinctive aromatic profile and some resemblance to a Saint-Joseph. The nose opens with layers of cherry and blueberry fruit and is lifted by notes of cracked pepper and a subtle smoky oak character. On the palate, it’s finely textured, offering smooth tannins and juicy bright acidity. The mid-palate offers up plenty of red cherry, fresh plums, and finishes with a peppery lingering spice. It’s delicious now and should cellar well over the next 5-10 years.
Daniel Martin, Private Client Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2024)
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