St Hallett’s Higher Earth Syrah marks a new chapter for a brand known for its bold, unmistakably Barossan Shiraz. This wine, a true ‘Syrah’ style, is lighter on its toes—ethereal, even—with perfume that skips from the glass, and a juicy freshness that calls for drinking, with pleasure, right now. It seeks to represent with purity and grace the high altitude and cool climate of the Eden Valley, a showcase of this unique sub-region.
The fruit for Higher Earth comes from parcels in four of St Hallet’s Eden Valley vineyards. Each parcel is treated individually according to its readiness and maturity. Unlike other St Hallett cuvées, Higher Earth is fermented at cool temperatures to instil vigour and freshness. It is aged in 25% new French oak. The result is a Syrah with lashings of dark fruit flavour and a lick of black pepper spice.
Lovely bright purple in the glass, vivid. Lifted aromas of blueberry, dried herbs, violets, spice and a brambly earthiness. Full of dark plummy fruit, mulberry, licorice, mint chocolate, boysenberry and sappy, cedary oak. Firm, granular tannin and bright acidity provide shape. High alcohol pokes through a touch.
92 points, The Real Review (October 2021)
Fragrant nose of blackcurrants, cherries, raspberries, violets, cloves and chili chocolate. It’s full-bodied with firm, fine tannins and bright acidity. Structured shiraz. Pretty floral notes on the wild, vivid finish.
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (October 2021)
The Lindner Family established St Hallett in the heart of the Barossa Valley near Tanunda in 1944. After a relatively sleepy beginning producing fortified wines, the winery restructured its ownership. The rumbustious pioneering energy of Barossa legend Bob McLean during the 1980s and 1990s saw an extraordinary metamorphosis. Stuart Blackwell, St Hallett’s winemaker since 1972 oversaw the development of Langton's Classified 'Excellent' St Hallet Old Block Shiraz, perhaps one of the most successful ultra-fine Barossa Shirazes and an early cult-type wine. Alongside Old Block, St Hallett makes a range of wines that consistently over-deliver including the classic reserve style Blackwell Shiraz.
