At just 12.5% alcohol, the deep garnet-purple colored 2007 Gruyere Syrah manages fully ripe aromas and flavors with notes of dark berries, loam and underbrush with subtle notes of anise and cardamom. Crisp with a medium level of fine tannins, this wine has good concentration and a long earthy finish. Drinking now, this Syrah should cellar through 2016. Winemaker Mac Forbes, formerly with Mount Mary, has now gone out on his own purchasing fruit from across Yarra Valley and crafting wines to his own unique style. The Pinots in particular have received split opinions from the locals, some adoring these very pale colored, delicate wines while others think he’s gone too far in the “delicate” direction. While I respect his vision, I do think some of the wines are a little lacking in intensity and structure. For those that like to live life on the light side, I think there’s a lot of pleasure to be had from his Pinots as well as the Chardonnays.Importer: Ronnie Sanders, Vine Street Imports, Philadelphia, PA; tel. (215) 533-9464