2025 Cobaw Ridge L'Altra Syrah Pinot Noir Lagrein – Macedon Ranges, VIC – 94 Points The Wine Front

🍷 94 POINTS THE WINE FRONT – THREE EXTRAORDINARY GRAPE VARIETIES, ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST INDIVIDUAL WINERIES & A SERIOUSLY EXCITING RED FOR JUST $53!

94 Points – The Wine Front 

2025 Cobaw Ridge L'Altra Syrah Pinot Noir Lagrein – Macedon Ranges, Victoria

 RRP $58

Syrah, Pinot Noir and Lagrein. Three completely different grape varieties brought together by one of the Macedon Ranges' most fascinating and uncompromising wine estates. The 2025 Cobaw Ridge L'Altra is a brilliant example of why some of Australia's most exciting wines are those that refuse to follow convention.

With an impressive 94 points from The Wine Front, this is a wine that deserves the attention of anyone who appreciates distinctive, beautifully crafted Australian reds.

Cobaw Ridge has built an extraordinary reputation for producing wines of individuality, purity and genuine vineyard character. Alan and Nelly Cooper have spent decades exploring the potential of their remarkable Macedon Ranges estate, producing everything from elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to serious Syrah and one of Australia's most fascinating expressions of the Italian variety Lagrein.

L'Altra brings three of those varieties together in a blend that is anything but conventional.

At just $58 a bottle, this is an exciting opportunity to experience the creativity, vineyard character and winemaking philosophy of one of Australia's most respected boutique estates.

🍇 Cobaw Ridge – A Remarkable Family Wine Estate

Established by Alan and Nelly Cooper, Cobaw Ridge has become one of the most distinctive and highly regarded boutique wineries in the Macedon Ranges.

Situated in the Cobaw Ranges of Central Victoria, the estate occupies a particularly cool and elevated landscape where growing grapes requires patience, meticulous vineyard management and a deep understanding of the local environment.

The Cooper family's philosophy is built around producing wines that genuinely reflect their origins rather than following commercial trends.

Their commitment to biodynamic viticulture, biodiversity and sensitive winemaking has helped establish Cobaw Ridge as a producer of exceptional individuality.

These are wines made with a clear sense of purpose.

Rather than relying on excessive extraction, heavy oak or overt ripeness, the emphasis is on fruit purity, natural balance, texture and the subtle complexities that emerge from thoughtful vineyard management.

The estate's Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Lagrein have developed enthusiastic followings among serious Australian wine collectors.

But L'Altra offers something a little different.

It is a wine that demonstrates the Cooper family's willingness to experiment, explore and create something genuinely individual from the varieties they grow so successfully.

🍷 L'Altra – Three Varieties, Three Personalities, One Fascinating Wine

What makes L'Altra particularly interesting is its unusual combination of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Lagrein.

These are three varieties with very different personalities, each capable of contributing something distinctive to the finished blend.

Syrah – Perfume, Spice & Savoury Complexity

Cool-climate Syrah is celebrated for its aromatic intensity, peppery spice and beautifully savoury character.

In the Macedon Ranges, the variety can develop dark berry fruit, violets, cracked black pepper and finely structured tannins without the excessive weight sometimes associated with warmer-climate Shiraz.

It brings the potential for depth, spice and aromatic complexity.

Pinot Noir – Elegance, Fragrance & Finesse

Pinot Noir is one of the great varieties of the Macedon Ranges.

Its delicate red-fruit characters, floral perfume, vibrant acidity and fine tannins can provide elegance and freshness.

In a blend, Pinot Noir can contribute aromatic lift, red-fruit definition and a sense of delicacy that balances more structured varieties.

Lagrein – Colour, Structure & Italian Character

Lagrein is one of northern Italy's most fascinating indigenous red varieties, particularly associated with Alto Adige.

Known for its deep colour, dark-fruit intensity and distinctive tannin structure, Lagrein brings an entirely different dimension to the blend.

Black cherry, blackberry, violets and earthy savoury notes are among the characteristics that make the variety so compelling.

Together, these three grapes offer the potential for something genuinely fascinating: the fragrance of Pinot Noir, the spice of Syrah and the dark-fruit structure of Lagrein.

It is a combination that demonstrates just how exciting Australian winemaking can become when producers are prepared to move beyond conventional blending traditions.

🏔️ Macedon Ranges – One of Australia's Most Exciting Cool-Climate Regions

The Macedon Ranges is one of mainland Australia's coolest wine-growing regions.

Its elevated vineyards, long growing seasons and distinctive continental climate provide conditions particularly suited to wines of aromatic complexity, natural acidity and structural finesse.

While the region is most famous for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, its diverse vineyard sites also offer fascinating opportunities for varieties such as Syrah and Lagrein.

The cooler growing conditions can encourage gradual flavour development while preserving freshness and aromatic definition.

For a blend such as L'Altra, this environment provides an intriguing foundation.

Rather than relying on sheer concentration or ripeness, the wine can draw upon the natural elegance, perfume and structural detail associated with cool-climate viticulture.

Cobaw Ridge's vineyard-focused approach makes this particularly compelling.

L'Altra is not simply an unusual blend. It is an exploration of how three very different varieties can come together to express the character of one remarkable Australian wine estate.

🍒 Dark Berries, Red Fruits, Spice & Savoury Complexity

The combination of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Lagrein suggests a wonderfully complex and engaging style of red wine.

Think vibrant red cherries, raspberries and wild strawberries alongside darker blackberry and plum characters.

Floral notes of violets and rose petals can add aromatic lift, while cracked black pepper, dried herbs and subtle earthy complexity contribute a savoury dimension.

The palate has the potential to combine the freshness and elegance of Pinot Noir with the spice and depth of Syrah and the distinctive structural qualities of Lagrein.

Rather than pursuing overwhelming richness, the appeal of this style lies in the interplay between fruit intensity, aromatic complexity and finely measured tannins.

Fresh natural acidity can provide energy and definition, while the combination of different grape varieties creates opportunities for additional texture and complexity.

This is the kind of wine that can reveal different dimensions as it spends time in the glass.

A fascinating blend for drinkers who appreciate elegant, savoury and character-filled red wines rather than conventional, heavily extracted styles.

⭐ 94 Points – The Wine Front

🏆 94 Points – The Wine Front

A 94-point rating from The Wine Front is an excellent endorsement of this distinctive release.

The Wine Front has developed a particularly strong following among serious Australian wine enthusiasts, with its critics known for their detailed assessments of boutique producers, emerging varieties and individual vineyard expressions.

For a wine combining three such different varieties, this recognition is particularly appealing.

At a recommended retail price of $58 per bottle, L'Altra offers an opportunity to explore the Cobaw Ridge philosophy at a considerably more accessible price than the estate's premium single-variety bottlings.

It is a compelling proposition for anyone interested in serious, individual Australian wine.

A Fascinating Meeting of French & Italian Grape Varieties

One of the most intriguing aspects of L'Altra is the way it brings together grape varieties associated with very different European wine traditions.

Pinot Noir is the great red variety of Burgundy, celebrated for its fragrance, elegance and ability to express subtle differences between vineyard sites.

Syrah is the noble red grape of the Northern Rhône, responsible for the great wines of Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph.

Lagrein comes from the mountainous vineyards of Alto Adige in northern Italy, where it produces deeply coloured, structured and often beautifully perfumed red wines.

Bringing these three varieties together creates a fascinating intersection of European wine traditions.

But the objective is not to imitate Burgundy, the Northern Rhône or Alto Adige.

Instead, Cobaw Ridge offers an entirely Australian interpretation, shaped by the distinctive growing conditions of the Macedon Ranges.

For wine lovers who enjoy exploring unusual blends, alternative varieties and the boundaries of traditional winemaking, L'Altra is a particularly exciting proposition.

🌱 Biodynamic Viticulture & Vineyard Expression

Cobaw Ridge's commitment to biodynamic vineyard management is central to the estate's identity.

The Cooper family places considerable emphasis on soil health, biodiversity and maintaining a balanced vineyard environment.

Their approach seeks to encourage healthy vines and fruit that reflects the distinctive conditions of the growing season.

This philosophy extends across the entire range, including L'Altra.

Rather than imposing a predetermined commercial style, the estate focuses on allowing the character of its fruit and vineyard to remain central to the finished wine.

For a blend involving three different varieties, this approach creates an opportunity to explore how each grape contributes to the overall balance and personality of the wine.

A Wonderfully Versatile Food Wine

One of the great attractions of a blend involving Pinot Noir, Syrah and Lagrein is its potential versatility at the dinner table.

The freshness and fragrance associated with Pinot Noir can make the wine appealing alongside lighter meats and savoury dishes.

Syrah's peppery spice and darker fruit characters can complement grilled meats, roast lamb and richly flavoured dishes.

Lagrein's structure and savoury complexity can add another dimension, making the blend particularly interesting with mushrooms, slow-cooked meats and Italian-inspired cuisine.

Think roast duck, grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, charcuterie, wood-fired pizza or a beautifully prepared pasta dish.

This is exactly the kind of red wine that deserves to be opened over a long lunch or dinner with good food and equally good company.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have enormous admiration for wineries that are prepared to challenge convention and produce wines with genuine individuality.

Cobaw Ridge is exactly that kind of producer.

Alan and Nelly Cooper have spent decades demonstrating the extraordinary potential of the Macedon Ranges, crafting wines that reflect both their remarkable vineyard and their uncompromising approach to quality.

Their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Lagrein are all fascinating in their own right.

But L'Altra brings something different to the table.

There is something wonderfully exciting about a wine that combines the elegance of Pinot Noir, the savoury spice of Syrah and the distinctive character of Lagrein.

It is the kind of blend that encourages curiosity and reminds us that some of the most rewarding wines are those that refuse to fit neatly into conventional categories.

The 2025 Cobaw Ridge L'Altra combines one of Australia's most respected boutique producers, an unusual and fascinating blend of grape varieties and an excellent 94-point rating from The Wine Front.

And at $58 a bottle, it represents a particularly appealing opportunity to experience the creativity and individuality of this remarkable estate.

94 points from The Wine Front. Three fascinating grape varieties. One of the Macedon Ranges' most respected biodynamic producers.

At just $58, this is exactly the kind of exciting, individual Australian red wine we love discovering at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Cobaw Ridge

• Winemakers: Alan and Nelly Cooper

• Wine: L'Altra Syrah Pinot Noir Lagrein

• Vintage: 2025

• Region: Macedon Ranges, Victoria

• Varieties: Syrah, Pinot Noir and Lagrein

• Viticulture: Biodynamic

• Style: Premium cool-climate Australian red blend

• Critic Rating: 94 Points – The Wine Front

• RRP: $53 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Roast duck, grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, charcuterie, wood-fired pizza and Italian-inspired dishes

• Cellaring: Enjoy for its youthful fruit and aromatic character or cellar under suitable conditions to explore its development.