2023 Swinney Shiraz

Highly Rated
A powerhouse grape-growing and winemaking team combine here in a beautiful, elegant WA Syrah.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
2 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$44.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

The Swinney family’s dedication to showcasing the potential of Frankland River shines in the 2023 Swinney Shiraz. Crafted by the expert team of Rob Mann and Rhys Thomas, this wine is a stellar example of Syrah from one of Western Australia’s most exciting producers.

Sourced from dry-grown vines on the Swinney Wilson’s Pool and Powderbark vineyards, this Shiraz brings together a mix of mature Massale Selection Syrah and newer clones, adding complexity and depth. Meticulous vineyard practices, like the use of shade cloth to protect from the afternoon sun, and careful winemaking choices, such as 22% whole bunch fermentation, wild yeasts, and aging in large-format French oak (just 7% new), all contribute to its layered profile.

A deep, vibrant purple in the glass, it opens with an aromatic swirl of black pepper, salted liquorice, and a touch of nori. On the palate, it’s a symphony of flavours—ripe mulberries and blueberries meld with fennel seed and Szechuan pepper, while fine tannins and a cool, mineral undertone carry the wine to a long, satisfying finish. It’s silky, savoury, and utterly compelling.

Ready to enjoy now but built to age gracefully, the 2023 Swinney Shiraz is an impressive display of skill, passion, and the unique character of Frankland River Syrah.

 

96 points - “This excellent syrah includes the newly introduced clones 470 and 171, which contribute to a new level of complexity. It’s been made with a light winemaker’s touch and only a tiny amount of new French oak to spice things up. There is structure here diving deep into the medium-bodied, highly perfumed, and supple fruit characters. Spices and a little of the ferrous personality add to the complexity. Brilliant and bright with such a vibrant palate profile.” - Ray Jordan (www.rayjordanwine.com.au, August 2024)

94 points - “Given that this wine has a power of berried fruit flavour, it’s quite something that it is, simultaneously, defined by its elegance, and by its finesse. It tastes of peppercorns, black cherries, maybe some plums, and definitely rounds of florals, twiggy spices, redcurrant, and cloves. It feels velvety but the fruit makes an impression, as does the dry rake of its tannin. And yet throughout, the wine just seems to keep its head above water. It never becomes sluggish; it remains high-toned and buoyant. It’s light, structural, and intense at once. In short, it’s impressive.” - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 2 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 2 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
2 reviews
  • JG
    John G.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2022 Swinney Syrah
    Reviewing
    2022 Swinney Syrah
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Bang for $$

    Lovely drop with acid balanced & the graphite tannin finish.

  • MC
    Mike C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2022 Swinney Syrah
    Reviewing
    2022 Swinney Syrah
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Love for Swinney

    Love all the Swinney reds. This is lovely to drink, deep fruit and some nice spice. Hard to think of a reason not to buy plenty more of them.

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Wine Specs
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Syrah
Appellation: Frankland River
Harvest Date: 3rd, 5th, 12th & 17th April
Acid: 6.25
pH: 3.55
Bottling Date: February 2024
Residual Sugar: 0.6 g/L
Alcohol: 14%

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes
Deep vibrant purple. Vibrant and perfumed with aromas of salted liquorice, black pepper, and nori. Medium to full-bodied with distinctive fennel seed and Szechuan pepper notes complementing mulberry and blueberry fruit. A satisfying, long finish with a coolness to the palate and fine, structured tannins.

Vineyard Notes
The fruit was sourced from dry-grown, vertically-trellised Syrah with small parcels hand-picked from specific sites on the Swinney Wilson’s Pool and Powderbark vineyards. The incorporation of mature Massale Selection Syrah blocks and newer 470 and 171 clonal material, with their different growth habits and bunch structures, along with the use of shade cloth on the afternoon sun side of the vines, contributed to layers and structural complexity in the finished wine.

Production Notes
The fruit was hand-picked, berry sorted, and transferred to small oak and stainless steel fermenters via gravity. 22% whole bunches and wild fermentation were incorporated to build structure and texture, creating a framework to express the opulence and spice of Syrah. The wine spent 12 days on skins before being pressed directly to fine-grained, large-format French oak (7% new). Aged on lees for 11 months before bottling, the wine was made with minimal effective sulphites, is unfined, and minimally filtered.

Other Notes
100% Syrah

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Great Southern
Australian State WA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Ray Jordan
Critic Score 96
94
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Swinney

The Swinney family's roots in Frankland River stretch back over 100 years.

George John Alexander Swinney was a pioneer of the region, settling a grazing property in Franklands in 1922. Today the property is run by fourth generation brother and sister, Matt and Janelle Swinney. They are taking the family property into great new territory.

Bush vines litter the property. Riesling, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre are fining a very happy home on the ironstone slopes above the Frankland River.

Now, with Rhys Thomas as viticulturist and vineyard manager since 2021, and sixth generation winemaker Rob Mann crafting the wines in the cellar, this label is on track to become one of the regional benchmarks in short order.

The Swinney family - Frankland River, WA Swinney

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