2024 Altera Terra Syrah – Murrumbateman, ACT – 97 Halliday | 96 James Suckling | 95 The R Review

🏆 97 POINTS HALLIDAY | 96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING | 95 POINTS THE R REVIEW – A SERIOUS CONTENDER FOR AUSTRALIAN RED WINE OF THE YEAR!

97 Points – Halliday Wine Companion | 96 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 95 Points – The R Review

2024 Altera Terra Syrah – Murrumbateman, Canberra District, Australia

RRP $50 per bottle

I am going to make a very big statement. The 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is a serious contender for Australian Red Wine of the Year.

And when you consider that this extraordinary wine sells for just $50 a bottle, it becomes an even more remarkable proposition.

We have been championing Doug Neal's Altera Terra wines because we genuinely believe they are among the most exciting expressions of Australian Shiraz being produced today.

We were telling our customers about the quality of these wines before the extraordinary critical recognition started arriving.

And now look at what has happened.

97 points from Halliday Wine Companion.

96 points from James Suckling.

95 points from The R Review.

Three exceptional ratings for a wine that costs only $50.

But the most exciting thing about the 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is not simply the scores.

It is the style.

This is not a massive, heavily extracted, oak-dominated Australian Shiraz.

Quite the opposite.

It is an extraordinarily refined, beautifully perfumed, deeply complex cool-climate Syrah that draws inspiration from the greatest wines of France's Northern Rhône Valley.

Think dark cherries, wild raspberries, violets, black pepper, exotic spice and beautifully integrated savoury characters.

The palate combines remarkable fruit intensity with freshness, fine tannins and an almost effortless sense of elegance.

There is power here, but it is controlled.

There is concentration, but never heaviness.

And there is complexity that makes you want to return to the glass again and again.

This is what truly great Australian Syrah should be.

And the man behind it has one of the most fascinating backgrounds in Australian wine.

Doug Neal – Nearly Four Decades Working Alongside the Legendary Rick Kinzbrunner at Giaconda

If you are serious about Australian wine, the name Giaconda needs no introduction.

Founded by Rick Kinzbrunner in Beechworth, Giaconda has become one of Australia's most revered wine estates.

Its Chardonnay, in particular, is regarded among the country's greatest wines, with an international reputation for extraordinary quality, complexity and longevity.

But what many wine enthusiasts may not realise is that Doug Neal has been closely connected to Giaconda since 1988.

That is almost four decades of experience and involvement with one of Australia's most celebrated winemaking operations.

Doug's journey into wine began while he was working as a schoolteacher.

His passion for great wine led him to work part-time at Armadale Cellars in Melbourne, where he began selling some of the earliest releases from Rick Kinzbrunner's Giaconda estate.

Rick subsequently invited Doug to Beechworth.

What began as an opportunity to learn about winemaking developed into an extraordinary professional relationship and enduring friendship.

Doug continued learning alongside Rick and became involved in their business importing some of the finest French oak barrels into Australia and New Zealand.

Over the following decades, this work brought him into close contact with winemakers across Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley and other celebrated wine regions.

It gave him an extraordinary understanding of how great vineyards, sensitive winemaking and carefully selected oak can combine to produce wines of exceptional quality.

And that knowledge is evident in every bottle of Altera Terra.

You are not simply buying a $50 Australian Shiraz. You are buying a wine made by someone who has spent almost four decades immersed in the world of extraordinary wine.

The Giaconda Connection & the Extraordinary French Oak of Sirugue

One of the most fascinating aspects of Doug Neal's winemaking career is his connection to the great French oak cooperage Sirugue.

Doug and Rick Kinzbrunner have worked together in importing French oak barrels for Australian and New Zealand winemakers.

This is not simply a matter of buying expensive barrels.

The selection of oak is one of the most important and often misunderstood elements of fine winemaking.

Different forests, grain structures, seasoning regimes and barrel-making techniques can profoundly influence the texture, aromatic complexity and structure of a wine.

For a winemaker such as Doug Neal, the objective is never to overwhelm the fruit with obvious oak flavours.

It is to use oak as a subtle structural component.

The finest barrels can contribute texture, complexity and harmony without dominating the vineyard's natural expression.

Doug's decades of experience with Sirugue and other French oak traditions have given him a remarkable understanding of this relationship.

His philosophy is beautifully simple.

Oak should support the wine, not become the wine.

And that is one of the reasons Altera Terra Syrah is so captivating.

The fruit, spice, perfume and mineral character of Murrumbateman remain the stars of the show.

The winemaking is there to bring everything together.

This is a level of understanding that comes from decades of experience, not simply a few successful vintages.

Murrumbateman – One of Australia's Great Regions for Cool-Climate Syrah

Murrumbateman, situated in the Canberra District wine region of New South Wales, is one of Australia's most fascinating areas for cool-climate Shiraz.

The region's elevated vineyards, continental climate and rocky soils create a distinctive environment for the variety.

Warm days provide the sunlight required for ripening, while cool nights help preserve natural acidity and aromatic freshness.

The result can be wines of remarkable perfume, spice and structural definition.

Murrumbateman Shiraz is particularly celebrated for its peppery character.

Black pepper, violets, dark cherries, red berries and savoury herbs are among the qualities that distinguish the finest examples.

This is a very different expression of Shiraz from the rich, powerful wines associated with warmer Australian regions.

And it is precisely this difference that fascinates Doug Neal.

He has spent years searching for exceptional vineyards capable of producing Shiraz with elegance, aromatic complexity and genuine individuality.

For Altera Terra, he places particular importance on rocky soils.

The Murrumbateman vineyard he works with is associated with granite, altitude and multiple Shiraz clones.

These are exactly the characteristics Doug believes can contribute to the most compelling expressions of the variety.

The 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is a wonderful demonstration of just how extraordinary Australian cool-climate Shiraz can be.

Why Granite & Rocky Soils Matter So Much to Doug Neal

Doug Neal has a particular fascination with rocky vineyard sites.

For him, the relationship between soil, vine growth and the structure of the finished wine is fundamental.

His Altera Terra project explores Shiraz from different Australian regions, including Murrumbateman, the Pyrenees and McLaren Vale.

These vineyards feature a fascinating diversity of rocky soils, including granite, schist, sandstone and quartz.

Doug believes these sites can produce wines with greater tension, aromatic complexity and structural definition.

In Murrumbateman, the granite-influenced vineyard provides a particularly compelling foundation for Syrah.

The rocky environment, combined with the region's cool growing conditions, can encourage a beautifully balanced expression of the variety.

The result is not simply concentrated fruit.

It is perfume.

Spice.

Texture.

Freshness.

And an extraordinary sense of refinement.

This is Shiraz grown for elegance, complexity and personality rather than sheer power.

Dark Cherry, Violets, Black Pepper & Extraordinary Savoury Complexity

The style of Altera Terra's Murrumbateman Syrah is absolutely captivating.

Think beautifully fragrant dark cherries, wild raspberries, blackberries and red plum.

Then comes the spice.

Black pepper, star anise, cinnamon, liquorice and an intriguing suggestion of exotic peppercorns.

There is a wonderful floral character, with violets and delicate dried herbs adding lift and complexity.

And underneath the fruit lies a fascinating savoury dimension.

Hints of charcuterie, cured meat, earthy spice and subtle mineral notes create a wine that rewards serious attention.

The palate is medium-bodied, beautifully textured and wonderfully refined.

The fruit is expressive without becoming heavy.

The tannins are fine and beautifully integrated.

The acidity provides freshness and energy.

And the oak remains a supporting character, never dominating the wine.

The finish is persistent, savoury and beautifully balanced.

This is the kind of Syrah that combines the aromatic fascination of great Northern Rhône wines with the generosity and purity of exceptional Australian fruit.

It is a wine to savour, not simply drink.

97 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

97 points for a $50 Syrah. Extraordinary.

96 Points – James Suckling

When a $50 Australian Syrah receives 97 points from Halliday and 96 points from James Suckling, it deserves serious attention.

95 Points – The R Review

97. 96. 95. Three extraordinary scores. One remarkable $50 wine.

The Northern Rhône Connection – Australian Syrah at Its Most Refined

Some of the world's greatest Syrah wines come from the Northern Rhône Valley in France.

The legendary appellations of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas and Saint-Joseph have established an extraordinary reputation for producing wines of perfume, structure and remarkable complexity.

The finest examples combine dark fruit with violets, black pepper, savoury spice and beautifully integrated tannins.

They can be powerful, but they are rarely simply about richness.

Instead, the greatest wines possess tension, energy and an almost effortless sense of balance.

This is the style that has inspired Doug Neal throughout his winemaking career.

His ambition is not to imitate the Northern Rhône, but to explore how exceptional Australian vineyards can produce Syrah with similar levels of elegance and complexity.

Murrumbateman provides an extraordinary opportunity to pursue that ambition.

Its cool growing conditions, elevated vineyards and granite-influenced soils can produce wines with wonderful aromatic definition.

And the 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is a compelling expression of that philosophy.

If you love the great Syrahs of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie or Saint-Joseph, this is an Australian wine that deserves your attention.

The Difference Between Shiraz & Syrah

Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape variety.

But the names are often used to communicate different stylistic intentions.

In Australia, Shiraz has traditionally been associated with generous, powerful wines featuring ripe dark fruit and rich texture.

Syrah, on the other hand, is increasingly used for wines that emphasise fragrance, savoury complexity, freshness and elegance.

This distinction is not an official rule.

It is a useful way for producers to communicate their approach.

And in the case of Altera Terra, the choice of Syrah is particularly appropriate.

Doug Neal is not trying to produce the biggest or most powerful red wine possible.

He is seeking complexity, balance, texture and vineyard expression.

The fruit should be beautifully defined.

The tannins should provide structure without excessive extraction.

And the oak should contribute harmony rather than dominate the wine.

This is Australian Syrah made with an extraordinary sense of purpose.

A Magnificent Wine for the Dinner Table

The 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is a brilliant food wine.

Its combination of dark fruit, peppery spice, refreshing acidity and beautifully integrated tannins makes it particularly versatile.

It would be magnificent alongside roast lamb, especially with rosemary, garlic and traditional herbs.

The wine's savoury complexity would also complement grilled beef, duck breast, venison and slow-cooked meats.

For something more adventurous, consider chargrilled mushrooms, earthy lentil dishes or a rich mushroom risotto.

The peppery character makes it particularly appealing alongside dishes featuring black pepper, herbs and gentle spice.

And because the wine is not excessively heavy, it can accompany a broader range of foods than many powerful Australian Shiraz wines.

This is a Syrah that deserves a great meal, a generous glass and the opportunity to reveal its complexity over time.

A Wine to Enjoy Now & Follow Over the Coming Years

The 2024 Altera Terra Syrah offers the aromatic freshness and beautifully integrated structure that make fine cool-climate Syrah so appealing.

Its vibrant acidity and fine tannins suggest that it should reward careful cellaring.

Over time, the youthful cherry, raspberry and floral notes may evolve towards more complex savoury characters, including leather, dried herbs, earth and game.

However, one of the great attractions of this style is its immediate approachability.

The wine's beautiful perfume and elegant texture should make it particularly attractive in its youth.

For those who enjoy watching fine Syrah develop, putting a few bottles away could be especially rewarding.

This is exactly the kind of wine I would want to buy by the six-pack – some to enjoy now and some to follow over the coming years.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we spend an enormous amount of time searching for wines that genuinely excite us.

Not simply wines with impressive labels or expensive price tags.

We want wines with extraordinary quality, individuality and value.

And the 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is one of the most exciting Australian red wines we have encountered.

We were telling our customers about Doug Neal's extraordinary wines before the reviews started arriving.

We knew there was something special happening.

And now the wine critics have confirmed what we have been saying.

97 Points – Halliday Wine Companion.

96 Points – James Suckling.

95 Points – The R Review.

But the scores are only part of the story.

Doug Neal has spent almost four decades working alongside Rick Kinzbrunner at Giaconda, developing an extraordinary understanding of vineyards, winemaking and the subtle role of French oak.

He has travelled through some of the world's greatest wine regions, worked with exceptional winemakers and dedicated his career to understanding what makes truly great wine.

And he has brought that knowledge to a remarkable vineyard in Murrumbateman.

The result is an extraordinary cool-climate Syrah.

Beautifully fragrant. Wonderfully complex. Perfectly balanced. Deeply savoury. Exceptionally refined.

It is everything we love about great Australian Shiraz, expressed with an elegance and sophistication that is genuinely compelling.

And the price?

Just $50 a bottle.

I cannot emphasise enough how extraordinary that is.

For a wine receiving 97 points from Halliday, 96 points from James Suckling and 95 points from The R Review, the value is remarkable.

I genuinely believe the 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is a serious contender for Australian Red Wine of the Year.

And if you love exceptional Australian Shiraz, fine Northern Rhône Syrah or simply outstanding wines that deliver far more than their price suggests, this is one you absolutely should not miss.

97 POINTS. 96 POINTS. 95 POINTS. NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF GIACONDA EXPERIENCE. JUST $50.

The 2024 Altera Terra Syrah is an extraordinary Australian red wine – and one of our most exciting recommendations of the year.

Wine Details

• Producer: Altera Terra

• Winemaker: Doug Neal

• Wine: Syrah

• Vintage: 2024

• Region: Murrumbateman, Canberra District, NSW/ACT wine region

• Grape Variety: Syrah (Shiraz)

• Vineyard Character: Elevated, granite-influenced cool-climate site

• Winemaking Philosophy: Elegance, aromatic complexity, vineyard expression and restrained oak influence

• Alcohol: 13.5%

• Closure: Screwcap

• Critic Ratings: 97 Points – Halliday Wine Companion | 96 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 95 Points – The R Review

• Style: Medium-bodied, fragrant, peppery, savoury and beautifully refined cool-climate Syrah

• RRP: $50 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Roast lamb, duck, venison, grilled beef, wild mushrooms and herb-driven dishes

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 15–17°C

• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar under suitable conditions