Craggy Range Le Sol 2020

The 2020 Syrah Le Sol is bloody good. It offers the drinker an appetizing raspberry-fruited opening. It's a succulent and suave initially, but on the finish it opens a new chapter, showing the tension and sinew of whole clusters fermentation (40%), driving the wine forward with persistence and energy. While ripe and having the right amount of puppy fat to get your teeth into, this wine also shows freshness, cool climate spice and lift. The tannins are abundant yet resolved.

• Drinking Window: 2023 - 2033
• Reviewer Name: Rebecca Gibb MW
• Review Date: January 2023

One of two Craggy Range wines to join the Place de Bordeaux this year alongside the Pinot Noir-based Aroha. Meaty and wild, a sense of roasted meat, smoky and deliberate with a balsamic element too. Bay leaf, cooking herbs and some graphite touches - lots of expression. A full and bold style, but so juicy and succulent, really sucks the cheeks in, makes the mouth water with strawberry, red cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. It's smooth and penetrating but it has such a lovely crushed velvet texture, slightly chalky but full of life and vigour. I like this expression, feels vibrant but also with quite a lot of tension at this point. Nice detail on show in the smoke and florality but all very soft letting the vibrancy show through at this point.

• Drinking Window: 2022 - 2030
• Reviewer Name: Georgina Hindle
• Review Date: August 2022

Deep and concentrated, touch of reduction on opening as is fairly typical with Syrah. Earthy overtones, bright acidities, delicate campfire smoke, spiralling upwards through the glass, opening to show earth, dried roses, raspberry puree, liqourice, game and spiced plum. Less floral than this grape often is from the northern Rhone, less powerful than a classic Australian version, this has its own distinct character, and is utterly charming. Harvest April 5-12. 56% whole bunch, 38% new oak.

• Drinking Window: 2022 - 2026
• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson
• Review Date: July 2022