2023 Sentio Beechworth Shiraz

Made by Chris Catlow, the 2023 Sentio Beechworth Shiraz is a wine that tells the story of its high-altitude granite soils and the careful hands that shaped it. Sourced from vineyards at 570 metres with a northeast aspect, this Shiraz captures the essence of Beechworth’s rugged landscape with vibrant fruit and finely tuned complexity.

Chris splits the handpicked fruit into two distinct parcels: one fully de-stemmed and partially crushed, fermented in stainless steel for precision; the other fermented with 100% whole clusters in an open-top concrete vessel, imparting depth and texture. After fermentation, the wine rests in a mix of barrique, demi, and puncheons, with a portion of new oak adding a polished edge. The result is a wine that marries freshness and structure, bottled in February 2024 after blending in October.

Expect an aromatic burst of raspberry coulis, an exaggerated perfume, and layers of spice. On the palate, there’s a tight minerality, juicy red fruits, and a lively sweetness that makes each sip a joy. The whole-bunch fermentation adds a lifted floral quality, while the granite soils keep the profile crisp and focused.

96 points
"Bursting in the kind of energy and vitality that could fuel a small city, this is one juicy, exciting shiraz. Fresh, spicy plum and blackberry fruits with pepper, aniseed, woodsy spices and earth enhanced by a light mineral thread of graphite and gravel. It speaks eloquently of the grape and the soil, the spice and the plushness of fruit and vanillin oak, before finishing in a fine tannin-ed elegance. Bravo!"
- Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)