Luke Lambert Syrah 2022

Luke Lambert is fast establishing himself as an icon in the Victorian wine industry and his eponymously named Syrah and Chardonnay are some of the finest examples of cool climate winemaking in the country. With fruit sourced from one of the coldest parts of the Yarra Valley Luke is using traditional techniques to craft a wine of rare refinement, quality and balance.

In an unassuming shed near this small town in the center of the Yarra Valley, just northeast of Melbourne, Luke Lambert makes gorgeous, minerally chardonnays and perfumed, savory syrahs under the Luke Lambert label. The wines are fresh and energetic… They are the sorts of wines I love to drink — pure and unpretentious but with character and depth. -  Eric Asimov, The New York Times

The fruit for this Syrah was sourced from the west side of the Denton vineyard, where it enjoys more afternoon sun. Like the Chardonnay, the vines are located at the top of the hill where the topsoil depth is negligible, and yields are much lower than is the case for the Crudo vines, which are on the lower part of the slope.

Luke tells us that one of the most valuable things he’s learned over his career is “how to extract the best out of bunch”, and those of you familiar with his reds will know this to be true (2022 saw an 80% whole bunch component). His ferments are fast—usually 10 to 12 days for the Syrah. Rosalind and Olive (Luke’s daughter) managed pigéage, doing so twice a day and really working the cap. It was then pressed to tank to naturally settle before it was racked to large, old foudre.

Luke has found a new gear with Syrah from Denton; you can expect more structure and potency than ever before. It’s vibrantly perfumed with berry fruits, smoky graphite and savoury spices. The brooding depth flows through to a richly textured palate charged with taut acidity and assertive tannins. The finish is as long as a pair of Tex Perkins’ jeans. Intense, yet full of light and energy, it’s not hard to see why Luke Lambert considers this one of, if not the finest, Syrah he has released.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Syrah
Country - Australia
Region - Yarra Valley, Victoria
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%