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The Blind Spot Grampians Syrah 2021

Red Wine from Australia - Victoria

12 Reviews

An exclusive collaboration between us and top winemaker Mac Forbes, The Blind Spot shines a spotlight on the best of Australia. This syrah shows blackcurrant, spices and plum, which are joined by liquorice and earthy notes on the palate. Full-bodied but spectacularly well balanced. Please note that this wine may contain some sediment, which while totally harmless, means you may wish to decant (or pour carefully).

is no longer available

Code: AU23961

Wine characteristics

Red Wine
Medium-bodied
Syrah/Shiraz
75cl
Now to 2028
14% Alcohol
oak used but not v. noticeable
Cork, diam

Vegetarian
Vegan

Blind Spot

The Blind spot range of wines is made exclusively for us by renowned Australian winemaker, Mac Forbes. The way we work with Mac has evolved over time. For the last decade or so Mac had been seeking out parcels of wines from his extensive book of contacts and choosing those that showed delicious potential to bottle for us rather than seeing them disappear into the obscurity of big brand blends. They were far too good for that and the popularity of the range proved time and again that Mac’s judgements were spot on.

Now, the situation has evolved, and we have taken advantage of Mac’s unique position, knowledge on the ground, contacts books, and his undoubted and enviable talents to seek out great grapes for him to make wine from rather than sourcing wines that are already made. We fund the purchase of the grapes, often paying for them more than 12 months in advance of the wine being available, which is a first for The Wine Society and gives Mac the opportunity to be first in line to select fruit from vineyards he is excited about. The advantages are manifold. We get the winemaking of a talented, indeed renowned, winemaker; we have greater involvement in what gets made and how; there is better traceability of the fruit and how it is grown; and the wines can express their terroir when appropriate. It’s a win-win-win, and dare we say it, win, situation!

We have reduced the range size too, giving us greater and clearer focus, and allowing Mac to highlight the...

The Blind spot range of wines is made exclusively for us by renowned Australian winemaker, Mac Forbes. The way we work with Mac has evolved over time. For the last decade or so Mac had been seeking out parcels of wines from his extensive book of contacts and choosing those that showed delicious potential to bottle for us rather than seeing them disappear into the obscurity of big brand blends. They were far too good for that and the popularity of the range proved time and again that Mac’s judgements were spot on.

Now, the situation has evolved, and we have taken advantage of Mac’s unique position, knowledge on the ground, contacts books, and his undoubted and enviable talents to seek out great grapes for him to make wine from rather than sourcing wines that are already made. We fund the purchase of the grapes, often paying for them more than 12 months in advance of the wine being available, which is a first for The Wine Society and gives Mac the opportunity to be first in line to select fruit from vineyards he is excited about. The advantages are manifold. We get the winemaking of a talented, indeed renowned, winemaker; we have greater involvement in what gets made and how; there is better traceability of the fruit and how it is grown; and the wines can express their terroir when appropriate. It’s a win-win-win, and dare we say it, win, situation!

We have reduced the range size too, giving us greater and clearer focus, and allowing Mac to highlight the progressive and innovative approach of the best Australian winemaking as appropriate, while nodding to the heritage of the country and its history of creative blends and classic varieties.

You don’t have to be eagle-eyed to notice, too, that we are taking a fresh, and perhaps ‘funkier’ approach to our labelling of these wines, with the info and story upfront. It’s a striking departure and one that celebrates the future without losing sight of the past. This is a range we’re excited about, one that will offer some deliciously intriguing variety from Down Under.

From a tempting selection made by talented Mac Forbes for The Society. From the cool Grampians region further east, it has layers of fruit and savoury spice.

Liz Sagues

Wednesday 23rd Mar 2022

Times of Tunbridge Wells

Love it or hate it, haggis is a pivotal focus of the traditional Burns supper, its stellar quality feted with the traditional reading of Burnss poem, Address to a Haggis. The grape that works superbly ...

Love it or hate it, haggis is a pivotal focus of the traditional Burns supper, its stellar quality feted with the traditional reading of Burnss poem, Address to a Haggis. The grape that works superbly with peppery haggis, principally perhaps because it smacks of freshly cracked black peppercorns, is syrah. The Wine Societys exclusive Australian Blind Spot wines have been a key segment of its range for about a decade and this scrumptious cool-climate syrah is an impressively pure and fragrant small-batch rendition of compelling length, exhibiting the Grampians tapestry of aromas and flavours: chocolate, anise, spice, earth, liquorice, florals and supple, peppery, dark fruits (hello aromatic molecule rotundone), with foresty/ herbal nuances in play, the tannins supple, the balance impeccable. Astute winemaking, with everything gliding seemingly effortlessly, from Yarra Valley legend Mac Forbes one of the most exciting and pioneering winemakers Down Under, according to the Societys gifted Australia wine buyer Freddy Bulmer. A classic Burns Night supper of haggis, neeps and tatties or roasted meats were made for this gusty red. Lovely wine. Ticks in every box. Restraint and detail in equal measure. Some whole-bunch fermentation (with stems included) a red winemaking practice chiefly associated with pinot noir gives pepper, lift, elegance, textural silkiness and freshness. You might consider decanting it since theres already a rather welcome deposit (its both unfined and very lightly filtered). Comes in a featherweight bottle too so its carbon footprint is much lighter than many wines in heavy bottles rest assured, theres no link between wine quality and bottle weight. Given the price and quality, its enough to have you marvelling. Watch this space for new Blind Spot discoveries since there are plans to increase this Aussie range to six wines with the imminent 2022 vintage. Only around 7,200 bottles were produced. Stunner.

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James Viner

Thursday 20th Jan 2022

joannasimon.com

Wonderfully aromatic, generously flavoured and smooth, and effortlessly fresh too. Perfumed bramble berries, black cherry and spicy black pepper streaked with orange zest and liquorice. Think casseroles,...

Wonderfully aromatic, generously flavoured and smooth, and effortlessly fresh too. Perfumed bramble berries, black cherry and spicy black pepper streaked with orange zest and liquorice. Think casseroles, beans, pulses, barbecued meats …

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Joanna Simon

Friday 28th Jan 2022