Sherwood Estate RD1 Waipara Syrah 2010 $29 ★★★½ Dayne and Jill Sherwood have been growing grapes and making wine in Canterbury for 25 years, and with expert guidance from winemaker Petter Evans they’ve managed to add a tasty little southern syrah to their repertoire. Lots of sweet, juicy red fruits on the nose and palate with … Read More
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Mahurangi River Estate Matakana Syrah 2010
Mahurangi Estate Matakana Syrah 2010 $45 ★★★★½ There’s not much of this about and it’s easy to see why people have been snapping it up. Packed with raspberry, blackcurrent and plum characters and has a gentle, smooth, chocolatey finish. So drinkable it’s dangerous. www.mahurangiriver.co.nz
Goldie Wines Waiheke Syrah 2010
Goldie Wines Waiheke Syrah 2010 $36 ★★★★ A rich, savoury wine with a lovely layer of ripe fruit sweetness, pomegranate, pepper and plum flavours alongside solid tannins and a warm, smooth finish. I would love to try this wine again in another year or so because I think it’ll be great with some extra time. www.goldiewines.co.nz
Syrah Spins My Wheels…
I’m writing this column the morning after having done my first spin class. If you’re a squeamish sort then hop up now and go and move the cat or phone a horoscope hotline for the next few minutes because this won’t be pretty. I’m not talking about channelling my inner rumplestiltskin with a bag of … Read More
Riverby Estate Marlborough Syrah 2011
Riverby Estate Marlborough Syrah 2011 $27 These syrah grapes have been in the ground for 20 years, making them some of the earliest planted in the Marlborough region. Boysenberry, black cherry and soft spices ooze through on the nose and it’s a very gentle, warming, comfortably textural wine with slippery-soft tannins. www.riverbyestate.com
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010 $35 Perfumed with intense dark berryfruit, plum, dried thyme and violet notes while in the mouth it bursts with fresh, juicy, ripe fruit, hints of smoke and cocoa and deliciously savoury spices. Complex and concentrated, it has muscular elegance and silky, warming length of flavour. One of … Read More
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2010
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2010 $22 Sexy inky purple colour and aromas of roast beef, rosemary, ripe plum and cuddly cocoa notes. Boasting youthful acidity, beautiful structure, elegance in the mid palate and the tannins are chewy but stylishly knitted together. It’s a ‘drink now’ wine representing superb value for money.
Sherwood Estate Waipara Syrah 2009
Sherwood Estate’s 2009 Syrah ($28) was the lucky last wine in the line and I loved its classic blackcurrant, pepper and violet aromas, concentrated fruit sweetness and layers of spice and texture.
Ti Point Matriarch Matakana Syrah 2010
Ti Point ‘Matriarch’ Matakana Syrah 2010 $45 Perfumed and peppery, this wine is both muscular and meat yet feminine and frisky and just like the woman it’s named after I’ll bet it’ll become more beautiful with age. Different layers of flavour unfurl with every minute it’s in the glass – so take your time to … Read More
Te Mania ‘Big Balls’ Nelson Syrah 2010
Te Mania ‘Big Balls’ Nelson Syrah 2010 $22 Inspired by the Rugby World Cup, winemaker Steve Gill says it’s an ideal accompaniment to roast springbok and deep fried wallaby and also “to wash down any English puddings”. Ripe and robust, peppery and smooth, it’s dangerously easy to drink. Created as a hearty, ribsticking wine to enjoy … Read More