2022 The Story Wines Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Super G Grampians Australia 750 ml

Rory Lane got into the wine business as so many other great winemakers have: by exhausting other options. 

With no family background in wine—and armed with a degree in ancient Greek literature—he wasn’t qualified to do much else. He did have a knack for stories, so after working harvests in Oregon and Australia, he settled on the perfect name for a winery.

He found out quickly that he made the right decision: he remains one of the youngest winemakers ever to receive James Halliday’s coveted Five-Star rating, awarded in 2008, just four years after he launched The Story Wines. Lane is truly passionate about Victoria’s Grampians region, and prides himself on simple, hands-off winemaking, which means native-yeast fermentations and minimal sulfur additions.

We’d been hearing about The Story for a few years, but until recently, very little elegant, perfectly balanced Aussie wine was making it to the States. We nabbed this tiny-production red on our springtime trip to Australia (well, it was fall there), and since we cut out the middleman, we scored a phenomenal price. A no-brainer for drinking through the cold months and well into grilling season. 

There’s a purity to his wines that is reflected in his 2022 Super G GSM. Lane tapped a longtime old-vine vineyard source of the venerated, 173-year old Seppelt Winery for this juicy, floral blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. On the nose, it features plentiful aromas of fresh black cherries, sweet tobacco leaf, freshly-tilled earth, peak-ripeness strawberry, grapefruit zest, and chile spice. Smooth and bold on the palate, the wine boasts well-developed tannins melded with juicy acidity and flavors of fresh violets, clove, cinnamon, fresh red raspberry. It’s a delight to drink, and it will pair with grilled fare over the next 15 years or so.