Australia’s Newest Global Benchmark: Swinney Wine
Frankland River is one of the world’s most obscure and isolated wine regions. Located in Western Australia, it’s over 150 miles from the city of Perth. Winegrowing here is a relatively recent development, beginning with just a handful of producers in the 1960s and expanding slowly over the decades. The region is cooler than most Australian wine regions and has a continental climate, characterized by wet, cold winters and warm, dry summers. In the past decade, producers have begun to gain recognition for the exceptional quality of the Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre wines thriving in this unique area. What excites me the most is that Frankland River is now home to one of the must-watch producers on the global wine scene.
The Swinney family has deep roots in Frankland River, dating back to its settlement by George Swinney in 1922. Despite their long history in the region, they began grape growing relatively recently, planting their first vineyards in 1998 and 2004. Starting with traditional dry-farmed bush vines, the Australian wine industry quickly took notice of the quality of their wines. For two decades, they supplied fruit to prominent names like Penfolds and Hardys, as well as smaller boutique wineries, with up to 30 different clients drawing from their vineyards.
In 2018, Swinney released their first wines to instant acclaim. They enlisted Western Australian winemaking legend Rob Mann from Cape Mentelle to lead the winemaking. The debut vintage garnered shock and admiration within the Australian wine scene. Since then, Swinney has continued to build its reputation. Australian wine critic James Halliday has awarded the winery a coveted five-star rating, his highest accolade. Their wines have received impressive 98+ scores from Decanter and the Wine Advocate. Five years into their journey, the fact that their Favrie wines are allocated exclusively to mailing list customers in Australia underscores their remarkable success. We’re thrilled to be working directly with Swinney and introducing their wines to the U.S. market, giving global wine enthusiasts a chance to secure a few bottles before they’re gone. I’d like to take you through the wines and explain what makes them so special.
In the early years of production, Australian wine lovers repeatedly asked Swinney, “Why aren’t you making a rosé?” The question makes sense, given that Mourvèdre is a key variety for many top rosés from Provence. Janelle Swinney explained, “If we’re going to make a rosé, it has to be the best rosé in Australia.” Thus began a multi-year journey involving global wine and viticulture consultants, including Lulu Peyraud, the matriarch behind Domaine Tempier, renowned for some of France’s most exceptional rosés. The result? The 2023 Swinney Mourvèdre Rosé Frankland River $39.99 was named Best Australian Rosé by James Halliday in its debut vintage. We were fortunate to secure an allocation just in time for the end of summer. This rosé transcends typical Provençal-style table wines, offering the power, elegance, and complexity of the world’s finest wines.
The 2022 vintage is notably strong for Frankland River and Western Australia in general. The 2022 Swinney "Estate" Syrah Frankland River $29.99 96JS 95WA is handpicked, hand-sorted, and fermented with 28% whole bunches using wild yeast, then aged in large-format French oak, with 7% new oak. It features blue fruit notes with ripe plum, black pepper, and Chinese five spice, showcasing Syrah’s spicy character and resonating with mouth-coating tannins on the finish. This Syrah stands out as a phenomenal value, comparable in quality to Northern Rhône wines.
You might have noticed that the 2018 Swinney "Farvie" Syrah Frankland River $99.99 96WA is the only wine we’ve brought in from Swinney that isn’t from 2022. Before we arranged to import Swinney to the U.S., their winemaker had inadvertently included a small percentage of 2021 wine in the 2022 blend, making it illegal to label as 2022 in the U.S. Discovered just a month before shipment, Swinney generously replaced it with library stock from the exceptional 2018 vintage, one of Western Australia’s best in the last decade. This is a rare opportunity to experience how these wines evolve with age. The 2018 Farvie Syrah is rich, with a creamy texture and notes of blue fruits, Bergamot tea, and savory cured meat, showcasing a gorgeous expression of the variety.
Grenache also thrives in Frankland River. The 2022 Swinney "Estate" Grenache Frankland River $29.99 96RP 95JS is hand-picked and destemmed, then gently placed into fermenters with 15% whole clusters to build tannin structure before aging in neutral oak barrels. The result is a concentrated expression of Grenache—more Châteauneuf-du-Pape than California—with notes of raspberry, strawberry preserves, tobacco, and anise. The acidity balances the palate and finishes beautifully.
The 2022 Swinney "Farvie" Grenache Frankland River $99.99 97WA is arguably the best Grenache I’ve tasted from Australia. Handpicked from a specific block of dry-grown bush vines in Wilson’s Pool, which has a higher percentage of lateritic gravel, this Grenache is bold in style. It offers pomegranate, plum, and juniper notes with subtle iron minerality and spice, making it a must-have for Grenache collectors.
However, Swinney’s greatest triumph is undoubtedly their Mourvèdre. The vineyard site and climate are perfect for this variety, and Swinney’s efforts in planting Mourvèdre as bush vines and dry farming them yield profound results. The 2022 Swinney "Estate" Mourvèdre Frankland River $29.99 96JS is a classic example of this style, offering exceptional value. Structured and powerful, it presents meaty black fruits and white pepper in a robust expression of Mourvèdre.
Without a doubt, the pinnacle of Swinney’s production is the 2022 Swinney "Farvie" Mourvèdre Frankland River $99.99 98DC 96WA. Nearly impossible to find in Australia, we secured a limited number of bottles. The Farvie is a small-production wine, sourced entirely from dry-farmed bush vines and harvested in three passes. It is fermented with wild yeasts and 66% whole clusters, then aged in seasoned French oak. This brilliant, world-class wine is one that collectors should note. Any discussion of the best Mourvèdre worldwide would be incomplete without mentioning this bottling. Incredibly dense yet not overly rich, it reveals plum, cured meat, and violets on the nose, with massive, fine-grained tannins indicating its potential for aging.
If you find yourself browsing the shelves or shopping online at klwines.com, take a look at these wines and pick up a bottle. I can guarantee you’ll be amazed by how good these wines are. The quality is absolutely world class, and we’re thrilled to bring Swinney to the U.S.