The soon-to-be released Bekkers Grenache and Bekkers Syrah Grenache are a masterful example of wine growing – where the custodians are intimately connected with the land and the grapes they grow. Toby and Emmanuelle Bekkers represent a perfect viticulture-winemaking team where the nuances of vintage are translated seamlessly in the cellar.
Although it was a cool growing season and challenges were encountered, the wet weather over summer was followed by a hot spell allowing tannins to develop to maturity. Meanwhile colour and flavour development were exemplary resulting in highly perfumed aromatics and generous fruit. As mentioned in previous dispatches, I believe Emmanuelle Bekkers is brilliantly intuitive in the way her wines are matured through to bottling. Fruit complexity and freshness have been preserved through meticulous attention and timely bottling. These are delicious evocative wines that offer the rewards of genuine craftsmanship and technical skill.
Toby and Emmanuelle Bekkers represent a perfect viticulture-winemaking team…
2024 Bekkers Grenache, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium crimson. Attractive cherry cola, musky plum, strawberry aromas with roasted walnut notes. Supple and silky textured with ample red berry fruits, very good mid plate volume, some chinotto/ bittersweet notes and underlying fresh acidity. Crunchy and juicy at the finish. A marquee style showing meticulous attention, especially during maturation. Absolutely delicious. Blewitt Springs, Kangarilla and Onkaparinga Hills. Drink now or keep for a while. 14% alc. 95+ points
2024 Bekkers Syrah Grenache, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Deep crimson. Intense blackberry, brambly aromas with hints of dark chocolate and bush garrigue. Expressive, ripe and juicy with plentiful blackberry pastille, musky plum fruits, fine slinky, slight al dente tannins, superb volume/ density, underlying roasted nut notes. Builds chocolaty and crisp. Lovely energy, tensile and flow. Drinking well now but another year’s bottle age will bring it into equilibrium. Clarendon & Seaview (shiraz) Blewitt Springs. 68% shiraz 32% grenache. Drink 2027 – 2034. 14% alc. 96 points
2024 Bekkers Syrah, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Pure blackberry, chinotto aromas with roasted walnut, marzipan notes. Supple and buoyant on the palate with amole blackberry pastille, cassis, chinotto flavours, fine loose knit chalky textures, and underlying roasted chestnut/ walnut/ marzipan notes. Finishes al dente form with bittersweet. A masterclass in fruit sourcing (Clarendon & Seaview), oak maturation and timing. Drink now – 2035 97 points
2024 Bekkers Clarendon Syrah, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Very attractive pure fragrant red cherry, blueberry roasted chestnut, hint marzipan/ herb garden notes. Red cherry, redcurrant, blueberry fruits, fine chalky/ grainy textures and underlying marzipan, roasted chestnut notes. Finishes slinky and long. Singular in character with attractive complexity and presence. Drink now – 2034 14.5% alc 95 points
2024 Bekkers Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium crimson. Fresh cassis mulberry violet herb garden aromas with hints of graphite. Pure blackcurrant, mulberry hint cedar flavours, fine grainy/ bitter tannins and underlying roasted walnut notes. Finishes claret firm and long with a touch of sappiness. Medium concentrated with impact and flow. 86% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc Drink now – 2032 93 points
2023 Bekkers Tome (Vol 3) cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, shiraz, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Fresh black cherry, cassis, hint cedar aromas with hints of pepper. Well concentrated inky black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar flavours, attractive mid-palate density and fine-grained touch muscular tannins. A cooler expression but lovely complexity, richness and torque. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 23% cabernet franc, 22% shiraz Drink now – 2032 13.5% alc 93 points
