Ben Haines Colour Block Syrah 2021

Ben Haines is a boutique winemaker in the cool climate Yarra Valley of Victoria, Australia, crafting expressive, terroir-driven wines that emphasise purity and texture. His Colour Block Syrah forms part of the accessible Colour Block series, where parcels are treated like colours on a palette to showcase regional character from sites such as the Miners Ridge and Great Western vineyards, planted in well-drained gravel and clay loams that encourage fruit concentration and savoury nuance. Haines works with sustainable growers and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery; while his wines are not formally certified organic or biodynamic, they are unfined and unfiltered with low sulphur additions.

The Ben Haines Colour Block Syrah 2021 is made from 100% Syrah, handpicked and fermented on ambient yeasts in whole berry lots, then pressed and aged on lees in older barrels for around seven to eight months to build texture and depth before blending and bottling without fining or filtration. It shows a medium body with perfumed aromas of red and blue fruits, fragrant herbs, subtle spice and mineral accents, underpinned by fresh acidity and fine tannins that reflect its cool-climate origins. The palate is juicy yet structured, with savoury complexity that pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, barbecued beef, peppery sausages, roasted vegetables and dishes with earthy spices or smoky char-grilled flavours served slightly cool to accentuate its fresh fruit and aromatic lift.