Coates The Reserve Syrah 2020 from McLaren Vale is serious, small‑batch Syrah – plush yet beautifully structured, with game, spice and black fruit all dialled in, showing why Coates sits in that sweet spot between modern Aussie ripeness and old‑world savouriness. It’s a selection of exceptional parcels, given the full “no‑compromise” treatment to create a deeply characterful, age‑worthy red.

In the glass, The Reserve Syrah 2020 is deep crimson, carrying vibrant mulberry and plum alongside dark cherry, salted plums, black olive, espresso and roasted spice, plus liquorice, game meat, white pepper and graphite‑like minerality. The palate is medium‑full bodied, silky and supple, with black fruits, black earth and charcuterie notes rippling through layers of fine, chalky, velvety tannins; it’s lush yet fresh, warming but balanced, with a long, authoritative finish.

From an Adelaide sommelier’s view, Coates The Reserve Syrah 2020 is built for serious food – think char‑grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, venison, rich stews and hard, nutty cheeses. It’s also superb with slow‑roast beef or game birds, and will happily anchor a winter dinner where you want a red with both generosity and real detail in the glass.