Bekkers Clarendon Syrah 2021

With fruit off the highly regarded Trueman Vineyard in Clarendon, the Bekkers team have crafted their first single vineyard wine since 2011, and it has been worth waiting for. It is a beautifully manicured expression of McLaren Vale showing both its cooler vintage and site. It has your classic kirsch, blackberry fruits but layered on top is a smoky, volcanic edge all well wrapped up in high quality small French oak – almost a Cornas feel but with a slicker overall feel with killer balance and a svelte texture. It is far from a blockbuster and offers a much more cerebral experience, that smoky volcanic edge again emerging on the palate and extending through to a lengthy, silky finish. It is a wine to linger over and enjoy the detail. Tannins are open knit but firm suggesting this is probably a more medium term proposition.