Michael Hall Syrah 2021, Flaxman’s Valley – Eden Valley

Growing season: The Naimanya vineyard sits high in the Eden Valley at 520 meters altitude, on the south-west fringe of the tiny sub-region known as Flaxman’s Valley. The soils are sandy loam, gravel and quartz over clay. Fair winter rains and a cool summer gave us a healthy crop of excellent quality.

Winemaking: Hand picked on the 7th April, 70% destemmed, 30% whole bunch, pressed to French oak, 10% new, matured for 20 months in barrel.

Bottles produced: 1940
Alcohol 14.2%; Titratable acidity 5.9g/L; pH 3.47; Residual sugar 0.59g/L

Produced by Michael Hall Wines

Michael Hall is a renowned, award-winning, South Australian-based, micro-negociant making individual wines that reflect their place. He sources fruit from carefully chosen single vineyards in the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley and the Adelaide Hills to produce small-batch, precise, expressive wines. Michael was originally from the UK, and he released the first vintage of Michael Hall Wines in 2008, bringing his wine dream to fruition after two decades as a jewellery expert at Sotheby’s in Switzerland. To prepare, he enrolled in wine science in Adelaide and absorbed as much knowledge as he could working stints in Australia with Cullen, Giaconda, Henschke, Shaw + Smith, Coldstream Hills and Veritas; in France with Domaine Leflaive, Meo-Camuzet, Vieux Telegraphe and Trevallon.

Learn more about Michael Hall Wines

Tasting Notes

Aromatic, spicy, and crunchy. Blackberry, plum, and baking spice are braced by firm tannin and lots of tension in the acidity.

“Very deep, almost opaque ruby red from core to rim. Blueberry and raspberry with spearmint and violet nuances lifting from the glass. Power and drive is the first thing that becomes apparent here, dark fruits fill the senses with their intensity but equally we see mint, ironstone and violet layers all making for serious complexity. Tannins are a fine gravel base upon which all this is rested and they’re up to the task of carrying it very long and ensuring the finish is dry and precise.”
95/100 Stuart Knox, The Real Review

“A full-weighted syrah that manages to wrap the creed of detail and freshness, with Eden Valley florals, extract and sweet pastille fruit. Violets, iodine, blueberry compote and kirsch compose a broad swathe of flavor across the mouth. A skein of freshness and pin bone tannins, replete with whole bunch spice beyond, evinces authority. Very attractive. Screw cap.”
94/100 Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com

“Winemaker Michael Hall turns his attention to the Eden Valley, specifically the Naimanya vineyard in the High Eden on the fringe of Flaxman Valley; 30% whole bunches, matured in French oak (10% new) for 20 months. There's a cooler aromatic edge here, blackberry and black cherry pastille vibes with hints of sage, kirsch, brandied fruits, clove-studded glazed ham, liqueur choccies, light tobacco and earth. Solid and broody with some Eden Valley mineral light shining in.”
93/100 Dave Brookes, Halliday Wines Companion