Bekkers Syrah Grenache 2015

Bekkers has been one of my red wine 'finds' over the past 2 years but they are certainly not everyday drinking at $100+ (no matter how good they are). Not surprisingly the winery specialises in Shiraz and Grenache, and blends of the two.

Without fail I have found the wines to be remarkably smooth, calm and friendly yet clearly have the bones for medium term aging.

"Bekkers brings together 2 high-performing, highly experienced and credentialled business and life partners. Toby Bekkers graduated with an honours degree in applied science in agriculture from the University of Adelaide, and over the ensuing years has had broad-ranging responsibilities as general manager of Paxton Wines in McLaren Vale and as a leading exponent of organic and biodynamic viticulture. Emmanuelle was born in Bandol in the south of France and obtained 2 university degrees, in biochemistry and oenology, before working for the Hardys in the south of France, which led her to Australia and a wide-ranging career, including Chalk Hill." James Halliday

"70/30% blend; from three vineyards, the grenache from Blewitt Springs, open-fermented and matured separately, 15-20% whole bunches, the remainder destemmed, not crushed, aged on fine lees in used French oak. The wine repays the complex time-consuming vinification. The bouquet is fragrant with delicate red fruits and haunting spices, followed by an enchanting mouthfeel as red fruits flow serenely across the mouth, the deeper tones of plum and blackberry ex the shiraz adding complexity, but not impinging on the main message." 95pts | James Halliday