The Flying Winemaker Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $30 If you were expecting a syrah that simply offered bog-standard violets and pepper, this one delivers SO much more than that. It delivers joy and wonder and unicorns and dreams and glittery goodness all wrapped up in a spicy, blueberry-cloaked cloud. Bright, energetic, and dangerously easy to … Read More
syrah
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $70 Grown in the Bridge Pa sub-region, with iron-rich soils famous for producing high-quality syrah, this certified organic syrah is entering a pretty darn wonderful drinking window. Dusty plum and pepper complexity on the nose and palate adds to the earthy layers in this softly-styled syrah. Refreshing, … Read More
Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Marlborough Syrah 2021
Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Marlborough Syrah 2021 $55 This is one of those young red wines that tastes great on the first pour but tastes amazing the next day. Erupting with dark berries on the nose, blackberry, boysenberry and blueberry notes, alongside a vein of pepper and dark cocoa and smoky oak, this organically-grown wine is … Read More
Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019
Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $125 From what’s fast becoming known as the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay vintages (19.20,21) Airavata is the absolute pinnacle of what the Elephant Hill winemaking team can achieve with syrah. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s so gorgeously, garnet-hued, glossy and inky-dark, it wins stars on … Read More
Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $18 Great value syrah here, buckets of red fruit. redcurrant, red apple and plum layers on the nose and palate merge with soft tannins, hints of pepper and earthy spices on the palate. Juicy, easy and a superb introduction to Hawke’s Bay syrah. Mills Reef
A Little Maison Noire Magic – BayBuzz Magazine Christmas Issue 2022
Santé to Maison Noire by Yvonne LorkinNovember 29, 2022 Photo: Florence Charvin “My perfect Christmas present?” asks artist Esther Smith. “Easy. A trailer load of mulch.” Not exactly what I was expecting when asking Esther and her husband, winemaker Guillaume Thomas of Maison Noire wines, what their Christmas wishes were for 2022. But as I quickly … Read More
Known Unknown Pakipaki Syrah 2021
Known Unknown Pakipaki Syrah 2021 $37 Just south of Hastings in Hawke’ Bay is the sleepy hamlet of Pakipaki, famous for its deep, limestone soils (there’s even a limestone quarry nearby), soils that aren’t your typical base for a place where syrah is more famous for growing in its gravel-rich appellations. Whole-bunch fermented for a … Read More
Brookfields Hillside Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Brookfields Hillside Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $45 Peter Robertson only makes this, his flagship syrah, when the fruit is exceptional. Sourced from 26yo vines growing on the gentle, sun-baked slopes of the Lyons’ family Hillside vineyard in the Bridge Pa triangle district. It produces tiny bunches of pure and vibrant, violet-scented, berries that create a … Read More
Squawking Magpie Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Squawking Magpie Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 ($25tbc) Glossy garnet coloured and inky in the glass, scented with bouquet-garni and bay alongside ripe berries and plum complexity. 2020 was a stunning year for syrah in Hawke’s Bay and the team at Squawking Magpie are guns when it comes to maximising every opportunity where great fruit … Read More
Kokako Farms Ohiti Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014
Kokako Farms Ohiti Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 $30 While Hawke’s Bay syrah fans are geeking out over the Gimblett Gravels, I’m quietly having an Ohiti house party over here in Lorkinland. Winegrower Bruce Nimon is obsessed with finding great soils, and in between a cow paddock and an old stockman’s station is a little … Read More