Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

‘This is the third official release of the Ava Syrah - Donovan Rall also made a 2016, but it has yet to see the light of a retail shop - and it has all the perfume and intensity of its predecessors. Very much a schist-derived style, it has violet and black pepper aromas, savoury tannins and youthful vigour and freshness. A world-class red. 2023-29’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 96/100

‘Insanely impressive on the nose, the 2019 AVA Syrah explodes from the glass with a heady, red floral push that sashays with notes of potpourri, red peppercorn and wild raspberries before hints of charred sausage with plum compote sway from the glass. Medium-bodied, the whole-bunch Syrah is evident in the palate with crunchy red fruit flavors that burst with purity and finesse in the mouth. Beautifully balanced and framed, energetic acidity and succulent tannins cascade over the mid-palate before concluding with a long, lingering and ever-evolving finish. Run, don’t walk to put some of this in your wine cellar! 2022-2032’ – Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 94+/100 (Jun 022)

‘The 2019 Ava Syrah comes from schist soils and is whole bunch fermented before aging in used oak. It has a gorgeous, seductive nose of pure blackberry, mulberry and light pine needle and garrigue scents, a bit of fennel emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins on the entry, and plenty of graphite-tinged black fruit merging with savory dried blood notes toward the beautifully balanced finish. You could broach this now, but personally I would tuck away a few bottles. 2022-2040’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Oct 2020)