Deep red with a good purple tint at the rim; the bouquet is shy and slightly muted at first, with notes of dried forest-floor litter and spices, a trace of black pepper, while the palate is full-bodied and rich, firm in tannin and long, firm and crisply clean finishing. Serious shiraz with good potential for aging.

92 points, The Real Review (October 2022)

The Munda project is led by Wirangu man Paul Vandenbergh, known in his other life as an NBL player and working within the AFL in Aboriginal programs and diversity talent managing. Vandenbergh also runs Wanna Mar, an Indigenous-owned-and-operated fishing company and he founded the not for profit Tjindu Foundation which focuses on opportunity making for younger gen Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people. Munda will work in conjunction with Tjindu to invest in Indigenous talent in wine. Watch this space.

Vandenbergh saw an opportunity in wine to acknowledge and broadcast Aboriginal country in a meaningful way – while an increasing number of wine labels are acknowledging Aboriginal country, Munda aims to be at the forefront of this and tell the stories of the country from which the wines emerge. So far, Munda has collaborated with Cirillo Estate (Ngadjuri and Peramangk Country/Barossa Valley) and Chalk Hill Wines (Kaurna/McLaren Vale), with this produced by Renae Hirsch at Chalk Hill. The wines are officially released in March 2023.

Mellow, supple and medium weight red, dark fruited, plummy, peppery and sweet spicy. Strong and rich perfume, gentler flavours with a sense of purity and gentle winemaking application. The tannins are lithe, feathery and lend shape, the finish a little scratchy with lemony acidity but overall refreshing and bright. A premium feel with a sense of understatement. Appealing.

92 points, The Wine Front (December 2022)

Crushed black pepper, blue violets, preserved blueberries, mulberries, black plums, dark chocolate (the type that goes from 85% and above), infused cloves, Chinese black tea leaves, black liquorice. There is a level of detail, focus and purity of fruit across those wines. Again, with this Blewitt Spring Syrah the palate shows a generous side; it’s well balanced by a vibrant acidity that makes me salivate for another glass. A fine, succulent Syrah indeed. The naysayers might think that I’ve been captured by the story behind those labels, but as a wine lover I’m just saying what I see without my thick prescription glasses. Enjoy with slow roasted Kangaroo tail and native yam daisy. Drink: now-2035.

96 points, Wine Pilot (2023)