Savaterre Shiraz 2018

Nestled in the mountains of northeastern Victoria, just outside the picturesque town of Beechworth, lays the Savaterre vineyard. The site was "discovered" in 1996 by Keppell Smith, owner and winemaker, after an expansive search through Australia's quality wine regions. The mild summer days, cool climate elevation combined with the rolling foothills of the Victorian Alps was the magic "terroir" combination sought by Keppell.

Intensely focused on the creation of outstanding, individualistic wines far removed from the mainstream, Keppell looks more to the wines, winemaking and viticulture of the Old World as his inspiration. Ranging from vineyard aspect through to the use of natural yeasts and French barriques, he combines the art and the science of winemaking in his drive to produce the finest of wines.

Savaterre Shiraz is more in the Syrah mode. If you’re a fan of big, traditional Australian shiraz this is not for you. Tasting blind you would assume it was a northern Rhone. It’s a beautiful wine with sophistication, complexity, tension and power. Very lifted and complex. 100% shiraz. A complete wine.

You must decant this wine well ahead of time to see it in its entirety. This wine is best enjoyed in 4-15 years.

This is a lovely wine, savoury, sappy, meaty, sour-sweet fruited, pretty and herbal and spicy at once. It rolls over the palate with a wash of soft (red berry) fruited, piquant spice flavours. Tannins stroke the tongue lightly, the finish amaro-laced, tart and pure. Fragrant, just shy of medium weight, almost a pinosity you could say, but the wine is still distinctly shiraz (syrah, perhaps). Fabulous, fine and fresh. Wonderful thing to drink. - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, 94 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Beechworth, Victoria
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%