Callum Powell has learnt from the best when it comes to Syrah. He practically grew up in the cellars at Torbreck, the Barossa winery his father co-founded. He spent a year at Jean-Louis Chave in the Northern Rhone, of Hermitage and St Joseph, learning more about his craft. His time in Hermitage and the many hours working the perilously steep slopes of the vineyards continues to influence him today, recalling the site specific way of naming wines in Hermitage. And he even likens his different wines to the characteristics produced from the different names vineyards of Chave.
Producing wines with a very light hand, with only minimal SO2 added at bottling, Callum aims to create lithe wines that are pure, unadulterated, and without the heavy oak influence that the region is known for, with a true traceability of place.
"With his latest 2024 wines, Agricola Vintner's Callum Powell is showing why he is a leader of the ‘New Barossa’"
Just 60 to 120 bottles each of three wines for the UK. The stock has landed. If interested in an allocation email wines@swig.co.uk or whatsapp us on 07785 571579.
Allocated - sadly, just 1 to 3 bottles max of each per customer.
97 points
"Looking at these '24 releases from Callum Powell you can't help but think 'Jeez, the Barossa is in good hands.' The fruit purity is off the charts in these wines. The Flaxman Valley release represents a 'home' wine for Powell – it's in his hood. There's a wide brushstroke of dark plum and red fruits, etched with spice, moody amaro tones, some sage, cold tea, meadow flowers, hanging game meats and crushed rock. There's an elasticity to its palate shape with fine, powdery tannins shaped around the pure fruit in a kinetic fashion and the finest, laciest of acid lines bringing everything together. It's a hypnotically delicious wine and I found myself drawing needless comparisons ... 'yeah, it's kind of St. Joseph-y ... yeah, nah ... it's totally Agricola Vintner-y'. A stunner." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)
The first and foremost thing to discuss is the pixellated, fine, succulent tannin. It shapes the wine but also melts into it, lends freshness, draws comparison to Italianate endeavours and lends a freshness to each approach. A rich array of dark and brooding berry and cherry fruit, blue fruits too, Aussie bush characters, a bit of alpine herb, some turned earth, paprika-spiked salumi, roast beetroot, pepper and then elements of graphite and stone – I’m loath to push the list of descriptors but they just keep coming up. It sits low profile in the palate but manages to stain it too – almost, not quite, a pinosity, maybe cru Beaujolais, but hey, it’s its own thing too. An experience of subtleness, which is a strange thing to say for Barossa shiraz; this is so compelling."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
96 points
"Dark-fruited and spice-driven, with a lovely earthy undertone and aromas of smoked meat, olive brine, blackberries and crushed stones, lifted by a floral edge. The palate is textural, with firmly framed yet integrated tannins, showing fine tension and dry, densely packed fruit without any excess fleshiness. Good density and refinement, with strong mid-palate drive. Drink or hold." - Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)
96 Points
“This is an Ebenezer-born shiraz that has considerable heft and power, while retaining a cadence and line that brings clarity and detail to its form. Yeah, sign me up for that… The dark plum and blackberry fruits are studded with exotic spice, peppercorn, pan juices, dark chocolate and earth; it's all there but there's lift and a pleasing pace. - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
97 points
"There’s a lot of viticultural and winemaking history behind this wine, and it shows. Powerful yet floral and refined, with aromas of blackberries, bitter chocolate, licorice, cured meat, olive brine and mulberry confit. The palate is densely packed, with a restrained palate, firmly framed yet finely tuned tannins and a fine line of acidity. Made from the famed Hoffman Dallwitz and Dimchurch blocks, planted in 1880 and 1951. Excellent. Drink or hold." - Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)
97 Points