Frankland Estate Syrah Smith Cullam Frankland River 2020

Frankland Estate was founded in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam – the "Smith Cullam" in this wine's name a direct tribute to them. Before planting a single vine, they toured French vineyards and worked two vintages at Château Sénejac in Bordeaux, then brought that Old World sensibility back to one of the most remote corners of Western Australia. The Isolation Ridge vineyard sits on part of a farm where the Smith family ran a wool-growing enterprise since 1974 – the same land where their children Hunter and Elizabeth now oversee winemaking operations.

The Smith Cullam Syrah is their most personal wine, made only in exceptional years from the original 1988-planted "Winery Block," with a mere 110 cases produced in 2020 after a dry season shrank yields and forced rigorous fruit selection. The blend is 93.8% Syrah with 5% Viognier and 1.2% Mourvèdre, fermented in small open-pot vessels using whole berries and hand-plunging, then aged 15 months in large 3,500-liter French oak foudre, a format that preserves freshness rather than masking it with wood.

The resulting wine smells like a florist shop collided with a spice cabinet… lavender, violets, winter mandarin, pink peppercorn, blackberry, licorice, clove, star anise, and fennel flower on the nose, followed by graphite and black tea, with whispery tannins woven through the fruit. Wine Advocate awarded it a worthy 95+ points, and James Suckling 95 – and for under $30 vs. $100 retail, this is the kind of drop that makes mathematical sense to buy a few. With free shipping on two-plus bottles and only four cases left, now is the time!