2019 R. Lane Vintners Westgate Vineyard Syrah

The Westgate Vineyard, planted in 1969 in the hills south of the town of Great Western in the Grampians, has been consistently and unquestionably our highest quality grape source, and we have made wine from these vines since our first vintage in 2004. 

R. Lane Vintners represents the finest wine we have made and is only released in exceptional years. In 2019 it was the 50th anniversary of this vineyard’s planting, and the gods obliged with a season that was moderate and even, ripening steady and consistent, with small-medium crops. We picked on March 23rd, around the recent average, and tannins were ripe and flavours still just on the red fruit side of things. The wine was fermented with ambient yeasts in 1000lt oak fermenters, two destemmed and one all whole bunches. It was pressed after three and a half weeks on skins. The batches were individually matured for eleven months in barrel (a mixture of French puncheons and barriques) before a final ‘best barrels’ selection was blended. In 2017 it comprised 50% whole bunches, and approximately 25% new oak. It was then bottled with no fining or filtration, as we aim to do.

"Fruit from the maker's oldest vineyard source, the Westgate vineyard (planted 1969). The winemaker says this wine represents 'the best that I can do.' In 2019 the season was warm and yields were lower than usual. There are many layers of sometimes-intricate winemaking involved here and it shows. This is a most complex tale of syrah. Enjoy the unravelling that is ahead of you; dark and brooding fruit, tastes of the earth, fields of wildflowers, with savoury touches and rich in Grampians super-spice. It's all here."

Jeni Port - 96 points, Halliday Wine Companion.

Vine Age 50yrs
13.5% alc.
pH 3.56
Total Acidity 6.1g/l
120 dozen produced 
Vegan