Cooper Davis Draper and his partner Cat came back to Australia from Mexico in 2021, with only $600 in their pocket and a bottle of mezcal.

Cooper has spent the past few years building up winemaking experience across Australia, France and Canada, and he draws on all this knowledge for his new, emerging label, Oria-Riff.

This is their delicious Old vine Syrah from a vineyard planted circa 1901 in Springton in South-East Barossa. It’s built in a slippery modern mode – more about spice and lift and elegance.

Only a tiny amount made but well worth checking out to get an early glimpse on this new name in Barossa wine.

94 points
“Its a delight to drink, supple, dribbly, moreish, floral and yet reflects fruit characters of the warm region in depth and richness despite its coolness and lift. Pretty violet elements mesh to aniseed, ripe plum, mulberry, old campfire and alpine herbs to sniff on, with similar flavours echoing in the palate. A rub of light, dusty tannins, some twiggy, bay leaf savouriness to taste too. It slips along nicely, juicy, yet tidying up to cinch of minerally, gravelly inflection. You get an impression of medium weight, suppleness, high drinkability and all that fruit, spice, savoury, textural detail. Much charm; touch fancy and a different lens for Barossa, done well.”
– Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)