2023 Bekkers Clarendon Syrah

98 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

From the Clarendon vineyard that Emmanuelle and Toby Bekkers acquired in '20 after being planted in the '90s. The history runs longer than that though, with the notably steep site first planted between 1842 and ’48. It’s clear this is a special vineyard, one of the coolest in the Vale, contour planted on vertiginous terraces. This is an extraordinary wine. Sweetly spiced, layered with sultry dark florals and blue and red fruits, this has such impeccable harmony on both nose and palate, the suppleness of fruit and perfectly extracted, caressing tannins dreamlike. Intense but weightless. Imbedded is a mineral line, lavender, some pressed violet, olive, nori, all so seamless. It’s startlingly good – a wine of breathtaking class and character.

97 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - Winepilot

The first single vineyard bottling from the precious Clarendon site first planted in the 1840s. This did not come at a simple price tag with the couple pouring their time, labour, blood, sweat and tears into restoring it. Steep, cool and roots buried in clay and schist soils. Luckily after all the effort, the site seems very willing to tell its tale in the glass. Illawarra plum skin, black cherries and torn banksia leaf. There is carob and coffee grinds, turned grey earth and blueberries. A sandy, wet stone like minerality, followed by the echo of concentrated black fruit. The coolness of the site shows in its aerial arcs of acidity, making for a medium bodied drink full of freshness and wonder. Not only is it impossible to put down, the flexible shape of the wine keeps you guessing and completely enamoured. Tannins slowly attach like magnets making for quite a solid fabric of texture. This will age slowly over the next 12-15 years. A really special wine and spectacular for its inaugural release.

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2023 Clarendon Syrah is exotic and dark, with black cherry, licorice, peat and autumn leaves, mahogany and even biltong notes. In the mouth, the fruit is supple and fine, yet the impact is great. The tannins feel fluid and silky, and everything is just so. This is a statement of place and variety, and there are few places around the country better matched than McLaren Vale (specifically Clarendon, in this case) and Syrah. Bravo. 1,000 bottles filled. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

94 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

This is taking Bekkers to the next level, at least at price point. A lofty zone to be in, but with mettle in viticulture, hard yards all round, serious undertaking generally, fine tuning in winery, you get the drift that perhaps this is due. Here we go! This fits neatly into syrah paradigms with its overt perfume, silky texture, spice, sweet fruit, savoury undertows, herbal complexity and medium weight feel. Yes thanks. A quibble would be just a bit of faint warmth and breathiness, but the overall feel is supreme balance, immense satisfaction in balance of fruit and winemaking overlay, a serious depth in quality of fruit character, a wine of lip-smacking intensity and general satisfaction.

94 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Winepilot

This 2023 Clarendon Syrah is a masterpiece and sure to become a collector’s item as the first single vineyard wine to come off this property under Bekkers ownership. With air, it shows its class as enthralling almost perfumed aromas of violets, clove and kirsch enveloped by fine grained French oak, 1/3 of which was new. Excellent upfront intensity while still showing the cooler season, and delivering a streamlined core of youthful blackberry, underpinned by chalky tannins, whole bunches adding to the initial tension before fleshing out on the finish.