House Of Cards Dead Man’s Hand 2024 Syrah

Awards and Accolades

93 Points Partners in Wine WA

“Bright red fruits, medium-bodied and firmly on the Syrah side of the spectrum, with a savoury style. Tasted blind, I might have thought there was a little Sangiovese in the blend, although there isn’t.”

The comparison with Sangiovese comes from the wine’s lively red fruit, savoury herbs and fresh, tangy drive rather than from the actual grape composition. Dead Man’s Hand is made entirely from Syrah/ Shiraz

92 Points and Silver Medal 2026 National Wine Show of Australia

A strong result at Australia’s national wine show, recognising the balance, quality and distinctive character of the 2024 Dead Man’s Hand Syrah.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Bright ruby to crimson red with youthful purple highlights.
• Aromatics: Fragrant red cherry, raspberry and cranberry are joined by dried herbs, cracked pepper, subtle florals and gentle earthy notes.
• Palate: Medium-bodied, energetic and savoury, with vibrant red fruit carried by fresh acidity and finely controlled tannins.
• Whole-bunch character: The inclusion of stalks during fermentation contributes herbal complexity, peppery spice and an appealing firmness through the middle of the palate.
• Oak: French oak sits quietly beneath the fruit, bringing subtle spice and structure without making the wine taste heavy or overly woody.
• Finish: Fresh and savoury, with lingering red cherry, herbs, pepper and fine tannins.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: Syrah, also known as Shiraz
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Vineyard: House of Cards’ single estate vineyard in Yallingup
• Viticulture: Certified organic
• Harvesting: Hand-picked
• Whole bunch: 60%
• Extraction: Hand plunging
• Pressing: Manual basket pressing
• Oak: Matured in French oak for 14 months
• Body: Medium-bodied
• Bottle size: 750 mL
• Serving temperature: Approximately 16°C
• Decanting: Recommended; approximately 60 minutes when young
• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar over the next six to eight years

A Syrah-Style Expression of Shiraz

Syrah and Shiraz are two names for the same grape variety, but the choice of name often gives the drinker a clue about the intended style. Wines labelled Shiraz are frequently associated with ripe black fruit, richness, fuller body and generous oak. The name Syrah is more commonly used for wines that emphasise perfume, red fruit, pepper, savoury complexity and a more restrained structure.

Dead Man’s Hand belongs firmly in the second group. Its bright red fruit, herbal character, medium body and fresh acidity give it more in common with a savoury Syrah than a powerful, heavily extracted Australian Shiraz. This does not mean the wine lacks flavour. Instead, its intensity comes through fragrance, energy, detail and persistence rather than sheer weight.

Why It Can Suggest Sangiovese

We noted that, if tasted blind, the wine might give the impression that a small amount of Sangiovese had been included in the blend. There is no Sangiovese in the wine. The resemblance is stylistic. Sangiovese is often associated with bright red cherry, dried herbs, savoury earthiness and lively acidity. Dead Man’s Hand displays a similar combination of red-fruited brightness and savoury freshness, which explains why the comparison can come to mind.

The Syrah identity remains clear through its pepper, floral fragrance, whole-bunch spice and supple texture.

Sixty Per Cent Whole-Bunch Fermentation

Whole-bunch fermentation means that complete bunches of grapes are placed into the fermenter with their berries and stalks intact. For Dead Man’s Hand, 60% of the Shiraz fruit was fermented in this way. This is a significant proportion and plays an important role in the finished wine’s personality.

Whole bunches can contribute:

• Greater aromatic lift and perfume
• Pepper, dried herb and subtle floral characters
• Additional freshness
• Fine structural tannins from the stems
• A more savoury and complex palate

The technique needs careful management because excessive extraction from the stalks can make a wine taste hard or aggressively herbal. House of Cards controls this extraction through hand plunging and gentle basket pressing.

The result is a wine in which the whole-bunch character provides definition and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Hand Plunging and Basket Pressing

During red-wine fermentation, grape skins rise to the surface and form a layer known as the cap. This cap contains much of the wine’s colour, flavour and tannin. Hand plunging involves manually pushing the cap back into the fermenting juice. It gives the winemaker close control over extraction and is particularly useful when working with whole bunches and intact berries. After fermentation, Dead Man’s Hand was pressed using a manual basket press. Basket pressing applies gentle pressure to separate the finished wine from the grape skins, seeds and stalks.

Compared with more forceful pressing methods, a basket press can help retain perfume and fruit while reducing the extraction of coarse or bitter tannins. This suits the wine’s medium-bodied, finely structured style.

The 2024 Margaret River Vintage

The 2024 Margaret River vintage was early, warm and fast-moving. Above-average spring temperatures and very low rainfall encouraged early budburst, while warm and consistently dry conditions accelerated ripening. Harvest began earlier than usual and progressed quickly across the region. These conditions required careful decisions in the vineyard and winery. Picking at the right moment was important for retaining acidity, perfume and freshness before sugar levels advanced too far.

Dead Man’s Hand reflects the successful handling of the season. It has ripe flavour and concentration but retains the bright red fruit, savoury detail and energetic acidity that define its Syrah style.

French Oak Maturation

Following fermentation and basket pressing, the wine was matured in French oak for 14 months. Oak maturation allows the wine’s fruit, tannin and whole-bunch characters to integrate gradually. It also provides gentle oxygen exposure, helping soften the texture and build complexity. French oak is generally valued for contributing restrained spice and fine structure rather than obvious sweetness. In this wine, it supports the red fruit and savoury characters without dominating them.

The oak is an important part of the wine’s shape, but it remains a background influence rather than the main flavour.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve House of Cards Dead Man’s Hand Syrah at approximately 16°C. If the bottle has been stored in a warm room, place it in the refrigerator for around 20 to 30 minutes before opening. Serving it slightly below normal room temperature will help preserve the wine’s red-fruit brightness, perfume and freshness.
• The wine does not require lengthy decanting. However, giving it approximately 60 minutes in a decanter will allow the whole-bunch perfume, red fruit and savoury characters to open.
• It is highly approachable now, particularly for drinkers who enjoy youthful fruit and freshness. Bottles stored somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable should continue developing over approximately six to eight years. With time, the bright cherry and raspberry flavours are likely to become more savoury, with increasing notes of dried herbs, earth, leather and spice.

Food Pairing 

• Herb-roasted lamb: The wine’s pepper, red fruit and savoury herbs complement lamb without overpowering it.
• Duck breast: Bright acidity and red-fruit flavours work particularly well with duck and cherry-based sauces.
• Pork and fennel sausages: The wine’s peppery, herbal character complements fennel and savoury pork.
• Wood-fired pizza: Try it with mushroom, prosciutto, salami or roasted capsicum toppings.
• Tomato-based pasta: Its red fruit and fresh acidity explain why the wine can work so well with dishes commonly paired with Sangiovese.
• Grilled mushrooms: Earthy mushrooms complement its savoury, whole-bunch character.
• Chargrilled vegetables: Eggplant, zucchini, capsicum and rosemary suit the wine’s medium body and herbal detail.
• Firm cheese: Mature cheddar, aged Gouda and Manchego have enough flavour to accompany the wine without overwhelming its fruit.

About House of Cards

House of Cards was established in 2011 by Elizabeth and Travis Wray and remains a Western Australian family-owned producer. Its wines are made from a small, certified-organic single vineyard situated on Caves Road in Yallingup, at the northern end of the Margaret River wine region.

The vineyard covers approximately 12 hectares and benefits from its proximity to the Indian Ocean. Cooling maritime breezes help moderate temperatures and contribute to the freshness and balance found throughout the House of Cards range.

The winery focuses on organic viticulture, traditional winemaking and minimal intervention. Hand picking, whole-bunch fermentation, hand plunging and basket pressing are used where appropriate to preserve the individual character of the vineyard and each vintage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Syrah and Shiraz different grapes?

No. Syrah and Shiraz are two names for the same grape variety. The word Syrah is often used to indicate a more fragrant, savoury and medium-bodied style, while Shiraz frequently suggests a richer and more powerful expression. House of Cards uses the name Syrah because Dead Man’s Hand emphasises bright red fruit, pepper, dried herbs, freshness and savoury complexity rather than heavy black fruit and high extraction.

What does 60% whole bunch mean?

It means that 60% of the grapes were placed into the fermentation vessel as complete bunches, with the berries still attached to their stalks. Including the stalks can add perfume, pepper, dried herbs, freshness and structural tannin. It is one of the main reasons this wine has such a distinctly savoury Syrah character.

What does hand plunging do?

During fermentation, the grape skins and whole bunches float to the surface of the fermenter. Hand plunging pushes this material back into the juice, helping extract colour, flavour and tannin. Because it is performed manually, the winemaker can adjust the frequency and intensity according to how the wine is developing.

What is a basket press?

A basket press is a traditional wine press that gently squeezes fermented grapes to separate the wine from the skins, seeds and stalks. The pressure is generally softer than many modern mechanical pressing methods. This can help preserve perfume and fruit while avoiding excessive extraction of bitter or coarse tannins.

Is this a heavy Shiraz?

No. Dead Man’s Hand is deliberately medium-bodied and belongs on the fresher, more savoury side of the Shiraz spectrum. It still has good flavour and structure, but its character comes from red fruit, pepper, herbs, acidity and fine tannins rather than richness or weight.

Should I decant it?

Decanting is optional, but recommended for the next few years while it remains young.

The wine can be poured directly after opening, but approximately 60 minutes in a decanter will help release its perfume and allow the red fruit, pepper and savoury whole-bunch characters to become more expressive.

What temperature should it be served at?

Serve it at approximately 16°C. Australian room temperature can often be too warm for medium-bodied red wine. If necessary, place the bottle in the refrigerator for around 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

How long can I cellar it?

The wine is already approachable, but its fruit, tannin and acidity should allow it to develop over approximately six to eight years. Cellaring will gradually move the wine away from youthful cherry and raspberry towards dried herbs, earth, leather and savoury spice.

Is the wine organic?

Yes. House of Cards produces wine from its certified-organic single vineyard in Yallingup. Organic viticulture avoids synthetic herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, with vineyard health supported through practices such as organic mulches and cover crops.

What food works best with this Syrah?

Its medium body and savoury red-fruit character make it particularly versatile. Lamb, duck, pork sausages, mushrooms, tomato-based pasta, wood-fired pizza and chargrilled vegetables are all excellent choices. It can accompany lighter dishes than a powerful, full-bodied Shiraz.