St Hallett Higher Earth Syrah 2021

"The 2021 vintage is in my mind, the best one I’ve ever been involved in – everything is just amazing."  Helen McCarthy, St Hallett Senior Winemaker 

The Higher Earth Syrah is a new addition to the St Hallett portfolio sourced from the higher altitude and cooler climate of the Eden Valley. The finest parcels of Shiraz are selected from a small number of select Eden Valley growers.  The Higher Earth Syrah is made in a northern Rhône style and was first released in the 2018 vintage.

"Very deep, concentrated, glass-staining red-purple colour and a rich chocolate and blackberry nose, a trace of eucalyptus, the ripe and concentrated fruit doing all the talking, oak safely in the background. Very rich and plush, concentrated and lavishly flavoured with velvet tannins and great persistence. A ripping shiraz."  Huon Hooke

"Deep purple with intense hue. Mulberry, berry compote, pastilles and there is some interesting caramel and oak spice that adds layers of complexity to the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced and elegant. The wine opens with layers upon layers of violets, wild berry, wintergreen and exotic spice overlays. The mid weighted palate is plush and round, supported by dense lingering tannins which complemented the finely textured oak bring the wine together. It’s an elegant wine with great depth and complexity and will continue to evolve over time."  St Hallett

Expert reviews

"Very deep, concentrated, glass-staining red-purple colour and a rich chocolate and blackberry nose, a trace of eucalyptus, the ripe and concentrated fruit doing all the talking, oak safely in the background. Very rich and plush, concentrated and lavishly flavoured with velvet tannins and great persistence. A ripping shiraz. Drink 2023-2039."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 96 points

"An Eden Valley-sourced shiraz that shows impressive depth of fruit straight off the bat. It's all black cherry, blackberry and macerated plum underscored with hints of broody spice, sage, salted licorice, dark chocolate, jasmine and earth. For all the fruit depth, there is a nice sense of freshness from the quartz-like acid line, some fine toothsome tannin grip and a spicy finish that shows great plushness of fruits. To me, it does seem a little darker in the fruit spectrum than normal and lacks a little of the detail of previous releases but it is a lovely wine all the same. Drink by 2035."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 94 points 

About the winery

Established in 1944 by the Lindner Family, St Hallett represents the very spirit and soul of winemaking in the Barossa. For most of that time it was owned, or part-owned, by one family, the pioneering Lindners, who arrived in the Barossa from Silesia in 1838. In 2017, St Hallett was acquired by Accolade. 

St Hallett sources all grapes from within the Barossa and is synonymous with the region's icon variety, shiraz. From the beginning, St Hallett understood the importance of saving old vines and focusing on varieties that thrive in the Barossa region. Strong long-term relationships with focused and passionate growers give St Hallett access to the Barossa's most prized vineyards, some of which were planted over 100 years ago. Over the years, St Hallett has built up a deep understanding of the rich tapestry of vineyard sites and climates in the Barossa and sources the finest vines and highest-quality parcels of fruit the Barossa can offer.

Old Block Shiraz (using grapes from Lyndoch and Eden Valley) is their flagship wine, supported by Blackwell Shiraz (using grapes from Greenock, Ebenezer and Moppa Hills).