Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Monopole Syrah 2025

Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Monopole Syrah 2025
AU$45, 13% alcohol, screwcap, Beechworth.

This is a blend of shiraz/syrah from two Beechworth sites: Warner Vineyard and Thorley. Warner was harvested on February 26, while Thorley was harvested on April 10. Given that both of these vineyards are in the same Beechworth region, that’s an incredible spread of time between the two picking dates – it says everything about how cool (and elevated) the Thorley site is. The wine is fermented wild, matured in all-old oak, and bottle unfiltered.

This is a shiraz that’s been painted in water-colours. It’s light- to medium-weight but it feels snappy and refreshing. It tastes of red cherries, boysenberries, forest berries and alpine herbs, with roasted nut and twiggy spice notes whispering modestly throughout. It’s beautifully made, as best evidenced by the fine, silty firmness of the finish. It’s the shiraz/syrah equivalent of a ‘luncheon Claret’. That is, it’s a lovely wine to spend time with.

93 points – Campbell Mattinson.