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.
Beautiful perfume all rich in sweet fruit, spice, floral things, incense and pot pourri suggestions too. Supple and silky in texture, juiciness inherent, a sweetness and ripeness to fruit but with good acidity holding freshness and a light dusting of spice for character, the finish a little gentle chomp of tannin and coolness. Feels like pedigree. A thoroughbred wine. It’s very good.
95 points, The Wine Front (September 2020)
Gold Medal
Perth Royal Wine Awards
The first edition of this wine, it has a thread of wet stones and spices with a peppery thread, dry spices and blackcurrants. Some violets, too. The palate has some really bold, rich blueberry and blackberry flavors. Quite bold, but fresh. Succulent, dark plum-stone finish.
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (September 2020)
Deep red/purple colour, and a rich black-fruit aroma, laced with star anise and licorice, the palate rich and fruit-sweet, sumptuously-flavoured and opulent, the tannins ample but very soft and supple. A luxurious but also elegant wine.
95 points, The Real Review (October 2020)
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.
