Place of Changing Winds Harcourt Syrah 2021
Place of Changing Winds Harcourt Syrah 2021 – alternate view 2
1 - 2

Place of Changing Winds Harcourt Syrah 2021

Place of Changing Winds
$49.00

Grape: Syrah
Vintage: 2021
Type: Red

This small-batch syrah comes from the Harcourt vineyard, an organically managed site rooted in ancient volcanic soils in Victoria. The winemaking incorporates a low-intervention approach, utilizing fifty percent whole clusters during a spontaneous native fermentation driven by wild vineyard yeasts. The wine undergoes a natural maturation process inside neutral French oak casks to encourage structural integration without oak flavor dominance. It is bottled entirely unfiltered to protect its raw, site-specific density.

It pours a dark ruby color, releasing a perfumed nose of violets, dark plums, warm baking spices, and hot bitumen. On the palate, the full-bodied framework balances a densely packed fruit core with a serious, grainy tannin structure. Savory layers of licorice and crushed stone add a deep complexity across the textured mouthfeel. A clean wave of natural acidity cuts right through the richness, keeping the structural volume lively. It finishes long and bone-dry.

Place of Changing Winds is a pioneering wine estate located in Bullengarook within Australia’s Macedon Ranges, established in 2012 by Robert Walters and his partner Kate Millard. The project is defined by its extreme viticultural practices, most notably its ultra-high-density plantings that range from 12,000 to a staggering 33,000 vines per hectare, designed to force the vines to compete and drive their roots deep into the rocky, 400-million-year-old soil. Situated at an elevation of 500 meters, the site experiences a dramatic diurnal range and is surrounded by native forest, which contributes to a cool-climate profile characterized by intense aromatics and structural finesse. Walters, drawing on decades of experience as a high-end wine importer, manages the 3.1-hectare vineyard organically with a focus on manual labor and soil health, producing estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alongside a grower series of Syrah and Marsanne from nearby regions like Heathcote and Harcourt. The winemaking process is equally meticulous, utilizing native yeasts, manual destemming, and aging in Austrian oak to create wines that prioritize purity and a precise expression of their unique terroir.