Purple Palate

Leaving impressions of liquorice, dark olive tapenade and sour cherries, this Bendigo Syrah is essentially the second tier from Sutton Grange. It hosts an army of besieging tannins, a subtle yet enduring undercurrent of nutty mocha and the faintest whisper of white pepper. It is a rare expression of uncompromising and complex savouriness at its price point, decidedly cool-climate in style, lean and yet marvellously powerful. A silky marbling of musky raspberry ushers semblances of sweet fruitiness to an otherwise tarry syrup of tongue-inspiring dryness that leaves an almost rubbery print on the mouth’s insides. It has years of sappy richness to give, and many layers of earthy forest to unveil. - NT