Discover our rare and refined Lot 71 Reserve Syrah

The Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Syrah is crafted in limited quantities and only made in outstanding vintages. This exquisitely refined Australian wine is a ‘Northern Rhône’ style of Syrah from Margaret River’s relatively cooler, maritime climate.  Made from carefully selected rows of hand-harvested grapes, it features 40% whole-bunch fermentation and is gently aged in large format oak puncheons.

Current Release: 2021 Lot 71 Reserve Syrah

Shop our 2021 Lot 71 Reserve Syrah
Price: $66 per bottle (750ml)

Vintage Notes

The growing season started warm and dry, ensuring excellent vine growth which allowed for fantastic canopy architecture for the ripening season. Cooler than average temperatures and sporadic rainfall from February onwards led to prolonged ripening and hang-time in all varieties, with excellent ripening and softening of tannins and great flavour development. The conditions resulted in a 2021 vintage of outstanding fruit quality and fantastic retention of natural acidity. The wines are characterised by purity and aromatic intensity, with pristine red and blue fruit profiles and lengthy, ultra-structured palates. An elegant and beautiful vintage in Margaret River.

Winemaking Notes

Selected rows were hand-picked at first light. 40% of the perfect clusters were gently placed in the bottoms of our open fermenters, after which the rest of the fruit was destemmed and placed on top as whole berries.  For the first 5 days of the fermentation each open fermenter underwent gentle pigéage 3 times a day, ensuring that the cap was only gently rearranged and that none of the clusters beneath were broken or disturbed, allowing each berry to undergo its own unique internal fermentation, thus adding multiple layers of complexity to the aromatic and textural foundation of the wine. Towards the end of the ferment the whole-clusters were gently broken with each pigéage to slowly release the sugar and aromatics into the wine. After a full 14 days on skin the wine was gently separated from the skins and transferred straight to oak to complete fermentation. It was then matured for 16 months in French oak puncheons, 40% of which were new, with bâttonage every 5 – 6 weeks.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Dark red in colour with blue streaks.
Bouquet: Aromas of black cherries, allspice and red plums, with hints of rosewater and raspberries.
Palate: Focused and tense; bristling flavours of glacé cherries and white pepper disperse to reveal a softer core of red fruits, guided by a tactile and unctuous ensemble of spices, crushed granite and mulberries, carried to the finish by a honed line of natural acidity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

– Roasted lamb rack with rosemary
– Seared duck breast
– High-quality bitter, dark chocolate

Cellaring & Serving Suggestions

This sophisticated and layered premium Australian Syrah is extraordinarily elegant now, and will continue to soften and evolve with cellaring into a more deeply savoury, complex wine.

Serving temperature: 16–18°C
We recommend decanting for at least an hour before serving.
Cellaring potential: 10-15 years for further development of velvety textures and complex tertiary notes.

Awards & Reviews

The Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Syrah has become Passel Estate’s most iconic wine, having earned an international wine trophy and consistent string of gold and silver medals with each vintage released.

Here are a some of the awards received for the 2021 Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Syrah:

95 Points, Ray Jordan, West Australian Wine Review 2026: “There have been some excellent examples of this wine over the years, and yet this one from a cooler vintage is certainly one of the best, producing a wine of elegance and poise with a sublimely silky smooth palate. Interestingly, after hand picking, 40% whole bunches were fermented and matured for 16 months in larger format French oak. The result is a wine that is perfectly integrated and seamless, with fine tannins in support. Spicy dark plum, cocoa and chocolate, and a nice gravelly savoury finish complete an excellent wine.”

Silver medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2025

Silver medal, Australia & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show 2025

93 Points, The Vintage Journal, Margaret River Guide 2026: “The team selected specific rows in the vineyard for this flagship Shiraz, which underwent whole cluster fermentation and then saw sixteen months’ maturation in large format French oak puncheons. 40% of those puncheons were new. Blood red/maroon in hue, the nose offers notes of black fruits mingling with red, pencil shavings, dried herbs, beef stock, mushrooms and cassis. There is good focus with impressive balance, through to fine tannins. The oak integration is effectively complete and done well. Lots to like with this slightly savoury Syrah style, which should drink beautifully for the next ten years.”

5 Stars, Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog: “True to ‘Syrah’ style with lots of savoury goodness. There are earthy tannins, spice, flavours of red clay and the garrigue you find in red Rhones. The 40% whole bunch fermentation and ageing in large format oak barrels contribute to a sophisticated style. While it clocks a modest 13% alcohol, there is no shortage of intensity in this medium to full bodied Syrah. Drinking beautifully 5 years from the cooler 2021 vintage.”

Why Choose Passel Estate’s Lot 71 Reserve Syrah?

Margaret River’s distinct maritime influenced, Mediterranean climate allows a longer, slower ripening season which produces Syrah fruit of exceptional elegance.  The resulting wines are beautifully perfumed, gentler in style with silky smooth tannins.

Passel Estate’s Lot 71 Reserve Syrah is produced in very small quantities and only in exceptional vintages. It is renowned for its elegant complexity:

”An excellent wine with a phenomenal balance between a Rhône-like freshness and Australian ripeness of black fruits, with very fine tannins, fully delivering on its price promise. A brilliant example – just give it time.” Decanter World Wine Awards 2019

Why Do We Use the Name Syrah?

Although Syrah and Shiraz come from the same grape variety, the two names are often used to signal different winemaking styles. At Passel Estate, we chose to adopt the name Syrah because it better reflects the character of the wine we produce.  Our winemaking approach focuses on achieving balance, structure and elegance, resulting in a style of wine that sits comfortably within the more restrained and savoury expression of this grape traditionally associated with Syrah from the Northern Rhône.

To explore the story behind Syrah and Shiraz in more detail, read our article: Syrah vs Shiraz Explained.