2019 Place Of Changing Winds Heathcote Syrah Second Bottling

This is the second bottling of the 2019 vintage. This portion of wine was fermented with 100% of the bunches and was foot stomped at the start of the ferment, which resulted in more structure and savouriness. The wine also saw longer maturation than the first bottling, a full 30 months in large format Stockinger foudres. 

Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Pronounced red plum and liquorice aromas infused with clove are followed by smoky fennel like notes, spicy vanillin cedar and peppered earth. Very smooth and well endowed with lush red fruits on entry, notions of clove, spicy vanillin cedar, smoky earth and peppered meats then ensue. Velvety tannins and good freshness showing good freshness showing great refinement and balance through the long savoury conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
We’ve already reviewed this wine – here – but this is a special second bottling, which spent extra time in oak, a full 30 months all told. It was matured in (large) 1000 lt and 2000 lt oak so the extra time wasn’t in search of extra oak flavour; if anything, the opposite.
The bottle I tried seemed quite reserved on the nose, even allowed a good amount of time to breathe, but the palate is quite something. The push through the finish here is elite. I mentioned the descriptor ‘sultana’ in my original review but I don’t see any of that now; it seems darker and more savoury, with dry licorice notes running through red/black cherry, along with smoked tobacco, along with sweet and woodsy spice aplenty. But really this wine is all about the finish, which is dynamite. It’s peacock’s tail territory. Dry, structural, plenty going on, a touch of the regal. I’m up a point, score-wise, and I’m tempted to be up by more. It’s a fabulous wine. Drink 2023-2032+
95 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front