Smith & Sheth CRU Heretaunga Hawke’s Bay Rosé of Syrah 2021 $40 Lovers of Hawke’s Bay syrah will be familiar with its super-stylish, classic black pepper and violet voice, however, it may not be on your radar as a grape that absolutely roars when crafted carefully into a rosé. Lucky for us, Master of Wine … Read More
syrah
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $24.99 Clearly the syrah gods were shining on Trinity hill during the 2020 summer because this syrah is an absolute stunner. That they’ve managed to cram in so much character for under $25 is a phenomenal feat. The aromas display an exhaustive array of peppercorn, dark, exotic florals, damson … Read More
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $40 Wow. This is one sexy wine! Deep, glossy and crimson-hued, I love the waft of caramelised spices, coffee, sweet cocoa and buckets of baked fruit on the nose. It’s intensely fragrant and gushes with peppercorns, red currant and smoked cherry flavours on the palate. The tannins … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $25 With its deliciously soft tannins, pencil shavings complexity, fragrant pepper, redcurrant, pomegranate, juicy spices and Black Doris plum punchiness, this is a superb example from a hugely exciting red wine vintage. Just 85 dozen bottles were made to satisfy a growing fanbase, so best you get in quick … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Syrah 2020
Ataahua Waipara Syrah 2020 $40 The Nor’wester swept plains of North Canterbury have turned out some sensational, yet completely underrated syrah over the years, but I’m thinking this new release from winemaker Stephanie Henderson-Grant is going to create some real noise. With pure peppercorn and Damson plum notes on the nose, brisk, feisty, under-the-front-gums tannins … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020 $25 When the 2020 grape harvest wrapped up, winemakers were hopping, skipping and clapping about the excellence of it all and right about now the reds being released are absolutely proving that point. This syrah is always exceptional value however 2020 is a squeak above the rest. Bold … Read More
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Syrah 2019
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Syrah 2019 $120 The ‘treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen philosophy applied by winemaker Chris Scott to these vines, is pretty hardcore. I mean dropping the crop by 60%-70%? That’s practically abuse! And yet this Bridge Pa-grown wine tastes like its long, loose bunches have been lovingly cuddled and … Read More
CRAGGY RANGE Gimblett Gravels LE SOL 2019 $150 2021 marks 20 years since the very first Le Sol syrah was produced and since then it’s only been released when the fruit is faultless and every vintage has a skite sheet stacked with accolades from across the globe. 2019 is next level. The Le Sol style … Read More
Beach House Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2019
Beach House Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2019 $30 Chris Harrison is a syrah superstar in my book. Each year his Gimblett Gravels grown grapes produce the peppery, cocoa-dusted goods. The 2019 oozes blueberries, dark chocolate, Christmas pudding spices across the nose and palate, the tannins are smooth, softly elastic and have excellent chew-factor. It’s a warming, … Read More
Mission Gimblett Gravels Jewelstone Syrah 2020
Mission Gimblett Gravels Jewelstone Syrah 2020 $50 Intensely glossy and inky-dark as it pours into the glass, this is a wine crafted from fruit grown in a small site on Mere Road, in the middle of the most famous red wine region in the country. And it’s pretty spectacular. I bet the last thing you … Read More