Tasting Notes
The Heathcote Syrah was fermented naturally with 100% whole bunches. There were varying levels of crushing and time on skins, including some full carbonic. Our ethos is always to use whole-bunch and whole-berry fermentation to bring perfume and finesse to the natural power of Heathcote.
Fermentation was in concrete and steel tanks and the maturation was mostly in large, neutral oak (Stockinger), with some in older barrique and concrete tank. Less than five per cent of the oak was new. Following our successful experiments with longer aging, we are now starting to extend the maturations for these wines; the 2020 Syrah matured for 18 months (as opposed to 12 months for the 2019 release).
For those who tasted last year’s release, the 2020 is certainly deeper and darker in its personality; there’s a dense core of spicy fruit, excellent complexity and fine, powdery tannins. Despite the wine's intensity, there’s plenty of detail, purity, and excellent balance. You can drink it now, but it will certainly age for up to 10 years and beyond. - Distributor Note
Warekilla. The Wurundjeri name could translate as "Happy Place". Or "Place of Changing Winds".
Robert Walters searched for almost five years trying to find a site for his warekilla. He eventually settled on the place, Bullengarook on the southern foothills of Mount Macedon, to establish Place of Changing Winds. Years of experience in the wine trade and visits to the best sites and winemaking practices around the world all culminated in Rob's decision to put down roots around Macedon. The changing winds create a high diurnal difference in temperature, embraced by the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit. Their vines are grown at extremely high density, ten times the norm, to encourage a community or single body of the plants as they develop their collective canopy, and dig their vines deep through the gravelly soils in search of water and nutrients, anchoring them against the wind. Fruit is low-yielding.
And as is the nature of the wind, Warekilla was not the only place to keep Robert grounded; Place of Changing Winds sources fruit from Heathcote for their two cuvées of Syrah and their Marsanne.
| Product Type | Wine Red Shiraz |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Victoria |
| Sub Region | Heathcote |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |