Hillenvale Syrah
From the Hillenvale Vineyard in Kangarilla, this 2022 Syrah is a savoury, site-driven expression of Adelaide Hills Shiraz. Grown on ancient red gravel and quartzite soils at 390 metres above sea level, it opens with dark cherry, spiced plum, wild mint and violets, before unfolding into a palate of dark fruit, leather, pine, spice and red earth. Fresh, silky and mineral, it’s a finely structured wine with elegance, energy and a strong sense of place.
Reviews of the 2022 Hillenvale Syrah :
93 points, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, March 2026:
This comes from the Adelaide Hills side of the Kangarilla vineyard; 24 months in medium-age French oak. Even with a few years in bottle, this has a tautness to it. That’s not uncommon for the vintage, and no bad thing. Tart blackberry, black olive, wild thyme, tar, black plum skin, spice cabinet scents, saltbush. It's linear in drive, the fruit composed. Stony minerals, pepper and celery salt on the finish, the tannins a little nervy at present, aligning with acidity. Give it a year or two.
93 points, Tony Love and Cyndal Petty, South Australian Wine Guide 2026, November 2025:
From a unique vineyard on the cusp of the Hills and McLaren Vale regions, east of Kangarilla. Rich, spiced plums with a sense of warm sunshine in the orchard at harvest. The faintest of mint chocolate follows, before the wine swells in the palate, buoyant flavours, bright sparks of acidity and freshness to drive it forward. Big beauty. Drink now–2034.
Reviews of the 2021 Syrah:
91 points, SA Wine Guide 2025, Tony Love & Tijana Laganin:
From a unique vineyard, on the Hills region slope of a creek line, the other side being in the McLaren Vale region. Nicely charry, with sweet plum fruit layers and earthy spices. Chalk-dusty in its feels, neatly directed forwards in the mouth, with a touch of bright lip-smack in the finish. Does nicely. 14% alc Cork. Drink now–2032.
2024 Young Gun of Wine - Top Australian Syrah, April 2024
93 points, James Suckling, April 2023:
A delicious, soft and juicy Syrah that has plenty of tobacco, spicy meat, and citrus character. It's medium-bodied with creamy tannins and a fresh finish. Real Syrah character. Drink or hold.
93 points, Wine Advocate 2022, Erin Larkin:
This 2021 Adelaide Hills Syrah is really fresh and vibrant. The palate is so alive—it has energy, race and pace for days. The length elevates the air. Lovely wine.
92 points, Halliday Companion 2022, Ned Goodwin::
This is good. Lifted, fresh and transparent, as a veil of blueberry, sapid red cherry and nori is given flutter by white pepper-doused acidity and a clench of reductive tension, perhaps a bit too heavily handled. Nothing, though, that an aggressive decant shan't resolve.
