Smith & Sheth Cru Omahu Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $80 
If you’re a fan of densely textural syrah then this will soothe the throat, clear the nose and shiver all your timbers. Crafted by Steve Smith MW and his team, from fruit grown in one of the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay vintages (2019/2020/2021), this Syrah roars with dark fruit, smoked vanilla, aromatic cedar, cracked pepper and Dutch cocoa with graphite dust and gorgeously fresh blueberry, black olive, baking spices and a lacing of cedar. The tannins are sandy and add to its ultra-long, beautifully balanced, softly saline finish.
