In the glass you’re looking at blueberry, mulberry and black cherry, laced with flickers of licorice, earth, subtle cocoa and a halo of fine spice. The palate is medium‑bodied and supple, with juicy dark fruits, delicate pepper, gentle savouriness and silky, grain‑fine tannins stretched over a long, persistent, almost seamless finish that keeps you reaching for another sip.

This Briar Ridge Ampelus Argilla Syrah 2024 is spot‑on with lamb cutlets, char‑grilled pork, duck breast, mushroom ragù, smoky eggplant dishes and hard cheeses. It’s an outstanding dinner‑table red now with a brief decant, and will evolve gracefully over the next 5–8 years, gaining extra savoury complexity without losing its vibrant core.