Wairau River Reserve Marlborough Syrah 2020 $40 
There must be something in the water over in the upper Wairau Valley where the Rose family grow their grapes because it seems as though every single wine they make walks away with various shades of heavy metal from wine competitions here and abroad. This syrah is no exception. Scooping a Gold medal and a Trophy at the recent Marlborough Wine Show, its lift of fresh blackberries, violets, peppercorns and soothing, sandy tannins mean it’s in hot demand. So they’ve had to restrict it to cellar door and online only. It’s finely tuned and shows lovely tension on the finish. That syrah from southern climes such as Marlborough can bring home gold medals and trophies might be a surprise to those thinking Hawke’s Bay and Waiheke have got it sewn up. But they’d better get used to it.
