Coates Reserve Syrah 2018 - McLaren Vale, SA

About This Wine

The Reserve Syrah is Coates premium release for Syrah and is only made in years of exceptional character; The Reserve has previously only been made in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the Willunga district of McLaren Vale.

The hand-picked Syrah grapes were fermented for eight weeks on skins using natural yeast. A small amount (10%) of whole bunch fruit was included in the ferment to add lift and complexity to the ferment. Maturation was performed in 70% new and 30% second use French oak. A single gravity feed racking and regular topping are the only time the wine is disturbed post Malo with 20 months spent in wood. Several barrel classifications are required before settling on a final blend of just four barrels. Bottling date is determined when the tannin and oak balance feel right, with a further year spent in bottle prior to release. The traditional approach used to make The Reserve Syrah precludes the use of the additives and fining agents such as tannins, enzymes, egg, fish or milk products. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in January of 2020.