Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $40 
Sourced from their Omahu (Gimblett Gravels) and Mangatahi (inland west of Hastings) vineyards, this syrah has an earthy elegance and plushness from its whole-berry, un-crushed ferment and from being matured for 14 months in French oak of which 35% were new barrels. The tannins are very soft and fleshy, with very little extraction and there’s an ultra-soothing, refined pepper-laced layer on the finish. It’s gentle and stylish and seriously tasty.
