The fruit for this 2021 The Landau Single Vineyard Syrah was sourced from Oakbank, in the Adelaide Hills, at an elevation of 400 meters above sea level. As I smell this wine, I know it is from the Hills, based on the gentle leafiness and aromatic levity. It is perfumed and spicy, cool and detailed. In the mouth, the tannins are chalky and fine and serve to emphasize the fruit's spice and exoticism. There is blood plum, black cherry, a hint of kirsch even, star anise, fennel, licorice and bush sage/salvia. What a classy wine this is. This wine is likely to age exceptionally well—it brings to mind quality Cote-Rotie (totally ridiculous given the difference in terroir but...), perhaps the element of whole bunch contributes to this comparison. Elegant plus. I would love to see it as an old wine—I bet it will shine. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Coming in to this Adelaide Hills bracket, from 30+ Barossa Shirazes, is like diving into a cool pool on a hot day. It's refreshing. In this 2019 The Landau Single Vineyard Syrah, we see what fruit from Oakbank in the Hills looks like—cool, leafy, spicy, laden with peppercorns and red fruits and littered with mineral acidity. The partial whole-bunch ferment infuses the wine with sappy tannins and an aromatic lacing of Earl Grey tea and orange skin. This is a poised, detailed wine. Encouragingly, this will still benefit from some further time in the bottle prior to opening, just to catch a glimpse of the spices it will offer, and in the long term will surely be worth that wait.