Log in for prices and ordering

Byrne Farm, Cool Climate Classics: The 2021 Releases

Byrne Farm, Cool Climate Classics: The 2021 Releases
Following the difficult farming conditions in 2020, which saw this producer release just one out of three wines, 2021 proved a welcome return to normality in Jeff Byrne’s adopted region of Orange. After four years of drought, this vintage came through with a very cool summer and above-average rainfall, ultimately delivering a measured crop of bright fruit with vibrancy, purity and structure to the fore. So, feast follows famine and Byrne’s skilled hand in the cellar has made the most of nature’s benevolence: it’s easy to see why this winemaker’s talents have been in much demand over the years.

Jeff tells us he’s never seen natural acidity this high, period. And that’s in a career that spans decades. In contrast to the much warmer 2019 vintage, the focus in 2021 was on tempering the acidity, allowing Byrne to introduce some malo and more bâtonnage in the Chardonnay, as well as destemming his Pinot Noir. Meanwhile, Byrne’s red blend reverts to a Shiraz-dominant composition. You can take the man out of the Hunter…

In short, 2021 marks an impressive release from a winemaker absorbed in crafting delicious and balanced wines that focus on region and site—and in this he succeeds with honours. Byrne’s pulpy Chardonnay shimmers with high country purity, while the Pinot Noir wastes no time introducing this seasoned winemaker’s preference for clarity and crunch. The Shiraz-Pinot is just a joy; freshly picked summer berries metamorphosed into wine. All the wines have wonderfully fresh, juicy personalities that make them hard to stop drinking.

Other Recent Releases

  • Albino Rocca
    Albino Rocca
    It’s no secret that 2021 was a dazzling vintage for Piemonte. In the glass, this transl...
    It’s no secret that 2021 was a dazzling vintage for Piemonte. In the glass, this translates as manna from heaven for Nebbiolo lovers, and a set of ...

    Read more

  • Murdoch Hill
    Murdoch Hill
    For any and all who love brightness and tension in their glass, Michael Downer’s 2023 r...
    For any and all who love brightness and tension in their glass, Michael Downer’s 2023 releases hit the bullseye. Twenty-twenty-three was, of course...

    Read more

  • Clos de Tart
    Clos de Tart
    “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time,” said Tolstoy. This offer marks ...
    “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time,” said Tolstoy. This offer marks our 18th year representing this historic monopole Grand Cru ...

    Read more

  • Thomas Wines
    Thomas Wines
    Whisper it: the Hunter's ‘once in a lifetime’ white-wine vintage of 2013 may have compe...
    Whisper it: the Hunter's ‘once in a lifetime’ white-wine vintage of 2013 may have competition. That's Andrew Thomas's tentative assessment. Tentati...

    Read more

  • Place of Changing Winds
    Place of Changing Winds
    There’s just a single Pinot Noir released from Place of Changing Winds from the 2023 vi...
    There’s just a single Pinot Noir released from Place of Changing Winds from the 2023 vintage, and it’s one of the most seductive this vineyard has ...

    Read more

  • Mayacamas Vineyards
    Mayacamas Vineyards
    Where to start with Mayacamas Vineyards? How about with the words of Eric Asimov: “A le...
    Where to start with Mayacamas Vineyards? How about with the words of Eric Asimov: “A legendary purveyor of classically structured, ageworthy Napa V...

    Read more

  • Noble Rot - Issue 38
    Noble Rot - Issue 38
    “One of the few irksome things about fine wine culture–apart from its pretence, and its...
    “One of the few irksome things about fine wine culture–apart from its pretence, and its propensity for snobbery–is the sheer cost of getting throug...

    Read more

  • Garagiste
    Garagiste
    Would someone please give Barney Flanders a break? As if it’s not enough that the weath...
    Would someone please give Barney Flanders a break? As if it’s not enough that the weather has played havoc with Garagiste’s yields, Barney and Cam’...

    Read more

  • Domaine Gérard Boulay
    Domaine Gérard Boulay
    In the hands of the best growers—and there are not that many in this sparsely populated...
    In the hands of the best growers—and there are not that many in this sparsely populated but fêted Loire village—a Sancerre from Chavignol can, to p...

    Read more

View All Offers