Previously labeled Graillot Project Syrah No. 2, the 2016 vintage was the last vintage of this wine to be bottled under the Graillot labelling. In Robs words, we have been working very hard on the viticulture of the Heathcote site for a long time now and we have been organic for the last few years. We have agreed to begin the certification process before the next harvest. As a result of this, and other farming practices that have been implemented, we believe that we have seen some significant improvement in the fruit and the expression of place and we all therefore feel, (myself, Max and Alain Graillot), that the time is right to emphasise the vineyard and region over the makers. The Graillots will continue with their involvement as before. Further, with the wines (from 2018) now made at Place of Changing Winds, the two Heathcote Syrah wines can now be seen as part of the Place of Changing Winds family. This is also reflected on the back label. In most other respects, the song remains the same. All the fruit is hand harvested and the 2017 was blended from spontaneous 100% whole bunch ferments. This 2017 was raised by Luke Lambert, mostly large format, neutral oak (predominantly Stockinger) and no sulphur used through the ageing. As always, the winemaking is extremely simple. 2017 needs little introduction, so lets just say that this vintage gave exceptionally pure, balanced fruit, which we think is borne out in the quality of this release.

The 2017 vintage in Orange was unusually warm and dry, giving this wine a strong backbone of ripe fruit characters.The wine is a bright dense cherry red with a tinge of brick red.The bouquet exhibits lifted spicy ripe fruit and light earthy plummy Shiraz aromas, combined with soft vanillin oak characters. Full bodied, the length of the palate is filled with very youthful plummy spicy Shiraz flavours. These fruit characters are balanced by drying oak tannins which contribute both complexity and length to the wine. With a finish that is typical of cold climate Shiraz fruit crisp, clean and elegant.

Brothers at War Single Vineyard Eden Valley Syrah The fruit for this single-vineyard Syrah comes from 80+-year-old vines from the Wardlaws Eden Valley Pendee Farm vineyard. This small parcel of Eden Valley Syrah is handpicked and the fruit is mostly destemmed, though not crushed, into a one-tonne open-top fermenter with 30% whole bunch clusters. The fruit is kept cool for five days before being allowed to warm up naturally and start the fermentation process. The wine is then hand plunged twice daily for three weeks before being pressed to French oak puncheons (40% new) and aged on lees for 18 months before bottling without fining or filtration.