Levantine Hill is located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and is one of Australia’s most premium wine producers. A family-owned estate comprising two vineyards and a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door and highly awarded restaurant, its wines are handcrafted without compromise by renowned Australian winemaker Paul Bridgeman. With a stated ethos of producing cool climate, delicate and refined wines of uncompromising quality, Levantine Hill has established a world-class reputation, winning many major international awards and the acclaim of leading wine experts.

Melissa’s Paddock, is the smallest block, is inspired by the very best Hermitage examples of the Rhône Valley. It is bottled as “Syrah” in recognition of its refined structure, savoury flavour and eloquently spiced nuance. Melissa’s Paddock Syrah seeks to make a profound statement of intent that builds on the formidable groundwork laid by our Estate Syrah but with its own inimitable characteristics of a unique site and its inherent powerful signature expression.

Superb quality here. Yarra Valley shiraz/syrah at its finest. Power, grace, poise and persistence. This wine really sets the glass alight. Pepper and florals, an assortment of berried fruits, graphite, toast, twigs and savoury spices. It has it all going on. It sits on the bolder side of medium-weight, and is drilled with spice-drenched tannin. The finish soars. It’s cracking. Tasted: Aug 2020; Alcohol: 13.5%; Price: $200; Drink: 2021-2031+; Rated: 95 Points; Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Medium to full ruby colour with vestiges of purple as well as brick-red edges, revealing some age development. The bouquet is earthy, undergrowth-like and the humus, vegetal notes suggest a high proportion of whole-bunches, including stalks in the ferment. Ashy notes and root vegetables. It's full-bodied but soft and fleshy, rounded and savoury. Sweet spices deep in the middle-palate. Some grittiness in the tannins. An idiosyncratic style that seeks to do something more interesting with the shiraz grape. It succeeds, but it may not be to everyone's taste. I thought it was very delicious. Date Tasted: May 2020; Drink: 2020 to 2032; Price: $200.00; Alcohol: 13.5%; Rating: 96 Points; Huon Hooke; The Real Review

Deep in colour, it offers a wonderfully complex bouquet of musky dried floral aromas, spices like mild pepper and cloves, foresty complexities, and a core of plum and berry fruit. Everything is in superb harmony and carried perfectly through the smooth, seamless, beautifully layered and lingering palate. The balance is superb and it has lovely flow through super-fine finishing tannins. Wow!  Date Tasted: May 2020; Drink: 2020 to 2035; Price: $200.00; Alcohol: 13.5%; Rating: 97 Points; Ralph Kyte-Powell; The Real Review