Frankland Estate ‘Smith Cullam’ Syrah 2020

We only produce this wine in exceptional vintages; the last was made in 2020. This is 100% Shiraz from the Houghton’s heritage clone planting in our original Winery Block, and as such, has a deep, old-vine resonance and personality.

The 100% destemmed fruit fermented in an open vat and was pressed to French puncheons after 12 days on skins. Matured on lees, the puncheons bring a bit more density and concentration over time compared to the brightness of the foudre maturation that contributes to the expression of Isolation Ridge Syrah. We produced 110 dozen in honour of our parents, Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith, who first planted the Isolation Ridge vineyard in 1988.

There is plenty of vibrancy here in colour and aroma—violets, maraschino, black cherry, peach, blood plum and biscotti—yet the impression is also stony and taut, with notions of concrete, graphite and ironstone. The entry is plush and velvety, but again, the ironstone element is assertive in its stony, ferrous purity and firm core. There’s excellent fruit intensity and substance to the midpalate and finish—maybe a more Hermitage-like muscularity allied to cool, rippling layers of dark fruit, pepper, tapenade and pressed
blue flowers. This is a Syrah of calm, flowing authority that is lovely to drink right now and promises a very exciting future.