Murdoch Hill Orion Syrah 2021

95 POINTS - MIke Bennie, The Wine Front
"A parcel of fruit from a single plot came through that looked strong from the get-go, and hence this wine was released. Big perfume that echoes with game meat, white pepper, ripe plum, pickled cherry and truffle. Sloshes into the palate with concentration but a laciness, levity, and yet tightens on a web of fine, graphite-laced tannins. Dark plum to taste, smoked paprika, game meat, dried herbs. Serious syrah here, done righteously."

Orion represents the cream of Murdoch Hill’s Syrah crop, comprising the best fruit from the Landau block (the lion’s share is from the apex of the vineyard) and further classified in barrel post-fermentation. This year, barrels were selected from just two parcels kept separate until the final blending decisions were made. The site is 400 metres above sea level, predominately east-facing on shallow red loam with varying levels of schist and ironstone. The vines were planted in 1998.

The fruit was picked over two days in late March and early April. It fermented with 15% bunches in a two-tonne open vat and then moved to 500-litre Stockinger puncheons (20% new), where it rested for 10 months. It was never going to be easy surpass last year’s triumphant release, which took out the trophy for Best South Australian Shiraz at the 2022 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, but Downer has found a way.