James Halliday 2020 Wine Companion Scores.

This brings together two high-performance, highly experienced and highly credentialed business and life partners. Toby Bekkers graduated with an honour’s degree in applied science in agriculture from the University of Adelaide and over the ensuing years has had broad-ranging responsibilities as general manager of Paxton Wines in McLaren Vale, and as a leading exponent of organic and biodynamic viticulture. Emmanuelle was born in Bandol in the south of France, and gained two university degrees, in biochemistry and oenology, before working for the Hardy’s in the south of France, which led her to Australia and a wide-ranging career, including Chalk Hill. Exports to the UK, Canada, France and China.

2017 McLaren Vale Syrah

RATING: 97/100

FROM: McLaren Vale

VARIETY: Shiraz

A wine with presence. Richly flavoured with excellent sweet fuit, toasty oak, spices, mint and a savoury, earthy edage. It’s balanced, long and pure. Full-bodied and concentrated, yet has energy and vibrancy, velvety tannins and great length. What a wine!

14.5%

Drink to 2037

2017 McLaren Vale Syrah Grenache

RATING: 98/100

FROM: McLaren Vale

VARIETY: Shiraz Grenache

A 58/42% blend: the syrah from Clarendon, grenache from Onkaparinga. Four parcels were separately vinified, 5-6 days cold soak, extended wild fermentation with extraction pre or during, not post maturation. As ever, a sumptious wine; perfect in its balance and symmetry, everything in its seemingly preordained place Bekkers is a star.

Screwcap 14.5% alc

Drink to 2047

2017 McLaren Vale Grenache

RATING: 96/100

FROM: McLaren Vale

VARIETY: Grenache

From vineyards at Blewitt Springs, Kangarilla and Onkaparinga Hills; hand-pruned, crop-thinned, 20% whole bunches placed at the bottom of an open fermenter. 80% destemmed machine-sorted and placed on top, 6 days cold soak, wild-fermented, gentle pumpovers, basket-pressed to French oak for 14 months maturation. The palate is like a blowing silken spider’s web, gently blowing in a breeze, red fruits the key.

Drink to 2030