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Swinney Franklands Cabernet Syrah 2020

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Swinney Franklands Cabernet Syrah 2020
Producer Swinney
Region, Country Frankland River, Australia
Bottle Size 750ml
Case Size 6
Product Code 21149-750

All the components for this release were dry-grown, with vertically trellised Syrah drawn from Swinney’s Powderbark block B2, and Cabernet Sauvignon drawn from the Wilson’s Pool block 401. Only a subsection of soil in both blocks was farmed and selected for this rare bottling (we have only 30 dozen). While Frankland River is cool-climate continental, Swinney also uses shade cloth for these grapes on the western side, creating a soft, mottled light to protect the skins and lower the temperature in the bunch zone.

Sorted berry-by-berry, Rob Mann incorporated eight per cent whole bunches in the Syrah, and both varietals were wild-fermented. The wines spent 11 days on skins before being pressed directly to three seasoned French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The two components were blended post-MLF and filled to a single, four-year-old, 600-litre demi muid for maturation. The wine spent a total of 16 months in oak before bottling.

The 2020 vintage was a knockout for this grower’s wines, producing wine full of flavour and with excellent structure and density. The Cabernet brings structure and texture—a refined chassis of mouth-coating tannins, bursting with vibrant mineral-soaked red and black fruits and tonnes of energy—subsidized by the Syrah’s suppleness and generosity. Exhibiting Farvie-level quality, it is a wine of exhilarating tension and velvety texture, finishing with fantastic length and great purity. It will live, and continue to improve, for decades to come.

Swinney Franklands Cabernet Syrah 2020

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Reviews

“Good depth of red-purple colour leads into a bold bouquet which reveals both varieties but neither dominant. There is cassis as well as meaty/earthy and spicy aromas, all of which translate to the palate which is intense and firm, taut and assertive, with abundant firm tannins which are nicely balanced and approachable, although it will undoubtedly age superbly. The finish is very long and the flavour is beautifully combined with firm and persistent tannins that are ripe and pleasantly mouth-coating. A very stylish blend. (65% cabernet, 35% syrah. A small production wine to celebrate 100 years of the Swinney family at 'Franklands', 1922-2022)”
95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“Jumps out the glass, but not a fruit-bomb. Perfumed dried herbs, bramble fruit, cedary oak and blackcurrant leaf. Impeccably balanced. The taste is wonderful, but the mouthfeel is king. Luxurious and plush, without being ostentatious. Flavours of bay leaf, toasted oak, cassis, rose petal and graphite roll over the tongue for minutes. A surprise package and beautifully crafted.”
96 points, Paul Edwards, The West Australian

Reviews

“Good depth of red-purple colour leads into a bold bouquet which reveals both varieties but neither dominant. There is cassis as well as meaty/earthy and spicy aromas, all of which translate to the palate which is intense and firm, taut and assertive, with abundant firm tannins which are nicely balanced and approachable, although it will undoubtedly age superbly. The finish is very long and the flavour is beautifully combined with firm and persistent tannins that are ripe and pleasantly mouth-coating. A very stylish blend. (65% cabernet, 35% syrah. A small production wine to celebrate 100 years of the Swinney family at 'Franklands', 1922-2022)”
95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“Jumps out the glass, but not a fruit-bomb. Perfumed dried herbs, bramble fruit, cedary oak and blackcurrant leaf. Impeccably balanced. The taste is wonderful, but the mouthfeel is king. Luxurious and plush, without being ostentatious. Flavours of bay leaf, toasted oak, cassis, rose petal and graphite roll over the tongue for minutes. A surprise package and beautifully crafted.”
96 points, Paul Edwards, The West Australian

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