St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah

The St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah is a beautifully balanced wine packed full of fruit and pepper spice with a long lingering finish. It is fine and structured with a great texture which you’ll want to keep going back to. Perfect for a special occasion or that special someone as a really lovely gift! 

Last week I was lucky enough to try a very special wine from St Hallett. They are celebrating their 2020 Annual Vintage Release with a number of incredible Shiraz wines to try across their range. This was just released on November 12 and is available across major retailers and on their website. As part of this release, I sampled their newest wine to join the premium wine lineup: the St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah.

These wines are not your everyday drinking wines. What St Hallett is offering is something truly special. So in the lead up to Christmas, what better time to start looking for a special gift for the loved ones in your life? These wines are perfect for special occasions. Even though they carry a higher price tag if this Syrah is anything to go off you are definitely getting good value for money! This wine was one of those ones that made me go ‘wow’ and I was a bit disappointed when we polished off the bottle!

About St Hallett and their latest release

St Hallett is a bit of an institution in the Australian wine industry and for good reason. Their wines demonstrate the beauty and variability of the Barossa and Eden Valley with hand-selected fruits from the very best sites. Their ethos is minimum intervention and maximum addition revealing the rich textures, depth and diversity of the fruit.

November 12 marked the annual vintage release with two new vintage wines, along with three brand new releases (including the St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah). This release is said to share some of their best wines yet! The St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah is a new addition to the lineup and was created to showcase the unique flavours and tannins of the Eden Valley, and area that their chief winemaker Helen McCarthy is particularly passionate about.

Why I loved the St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah

This wine was an absolute dream to sip on. I was very sad when it was over! The St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah is definitely something special that you could open for a special occasion or simply keep for a couple of years in the cellar until a suitable occasion arises.

On the nose, this wine is really complex. I really enjoyed the aroma of it and found myself continually sniffing the glass (not weird I swear). It was vibrant and aromatic with floral, blackcurrant and cherries with a hint of pepper and spice. These flavours were also found in the wine with a hit of dark cherry upfront along with raspberry and a nice peppery finish.

What I loved about this wine were the texture and substance. There was a lot going on but the palate was super fine. It was perfectly balanced and lingered long after you’d taken a sip. I really loved how all the elements came together and integrated into this beautiful taste than had so much length. It is one of those wines you’ll want to keep sipping!

What to enjoy it with

A wine like the St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah deserves to be enjoyed with a good meal. It is not something that I would really recommend having on its own, as I think it would really elevate itself and the food when paired together.

When it comes to food choices, you can’t go past a classic well-cooked steak and a BBQ. These go hand in hand, and I think this wine would really shine. Otherwise, grilled or roasted lamb would go perfectly with this wine or even roast beef. Just make sure you save it for something special (unless you don’t want to share!)

In summary: St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah

The St Hallett 2018 Higher Earth Syrah is beautifully balanced, full of flavour with a nice long finish. It is the sort of wine you’ll keep going back to, and remember long after you’ve taken your last sip of it. It is a perfect special occasion wine, or something to give as a gift for that special someone. Pair it with steak or roasted meat and you have the perfect combination!

If this wine is anything to go off, the rest of the St Hallett 2020 Vintage Release is going to be really special.

To discover more about this wine and the St Hallett 2020 Vintage Release, visit their website now.

Note: I was sent this wine as a sample but was under no obligation to post about it.