4.2 Vivino Stars (80+ Reviews)

Pretty much every student of the vine has heard of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave—the cult Rhône Valley producer whose coveted reds are nearly impossible to find, even more impossible to buy, and cost a pretty penny if you do find them.

Well, this Yarra Valley offer might just be the next best thing. Producer Levantine Hill (called “One to watch” by Wine Advocate) has Paul Bridgeman leading their cellar, and he worked at Domaine Jean-Louis Chave! So you can imagine the Syrah experience he brings to the Levantine Hill 2016 Syrah. Alluring black pepper nose, vibrant and deep wild red berry flavors, and an exceedingly elegant palate feel. It’s all there, at a fraction of the price of Chave!

Levantine Hill is a standout producer from Yarra Valley, one of the most exciting premium wine regions in Australia. Their location was once thought to be too steep and rocky to support viticulture, but Levantine Hill proved them wrong. Their vineyards enjoy loamy soils and orientations similar to those found in the Grand Cru vineyards of France’s Chablis. Rich in microclimate diversity, even their smallest vineyard parcels impart distinctly unique characteristics to their wines.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
This is a chiseled, earthy wine that showcases the relative cool climate of Yarra Valley with the power of Aussie Shiraz. It opens with some mushroomy funk that mingles with raspberry, cherry, vanilla cola and cedary spice. Granular with a tug of savory tannins, the palate is uniquely textured. Acidity is a little sharp, making the fruit feel a touch sour, but there’s a lovely spiciness and minerality, too. Drink now–2028.