Stonecroft Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018

16 April 2021By Yvonne

Stonecroft Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018 $60 Spots in the internationally-recognised 2018 Gimblett Gravels Annual Vintage Selection aren’t awarded for participating. Oh no. With only 12 places available for dozens of wines submitted by dozens of producers, it’s nail-biting stuff. Add 5 star ratings, Super Classic status from Michael Cooper, and high-90’s points from famous … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019

4 April 2021By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $25 Just 90 dozen bottles were produced of this wine. To give you an idea of scale, that’s less than two pallets. For the whole country. And overseas markets. So you snooze, you lose, I’m afraid. It’s a lush, complex, dried herb and spice-saturated style edged with baked berries, … Read More

Ruby Bay Nelson Syrah 2019

24 March 2021By Yvonne

Ruby Bay Nelson Syrah 2019 $39.99 Huge pepper on the nose and some good floral notes but the acidity is very high and a touch thin, however that may smooth out over time. It definitely opens up and softens slightly in the glass after a few good swirls. Very pretty garnet colour and fine-grained tannins.  … Read More

Unison Symphony Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014

6 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Symphony Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014 $55 This syrah is developing a deliciously meaty majesty to its aromatic and flavourmatic (yes, it’s a word) layers. Soft white pepper, blueberry and boysenberry coulis characters all jostle for attention on the nose and mouth and it ends up being quite the delicious disco. Hints of flaxseed, soy … Read More

Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014

5 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014 $38 I love that the punch of peppery syrah adds an extra flick to the tail of this warm, smooth, fulsome and velvety blend. Seriously aromatic, with dried herbs, carpenters cabin and cocoa characters, seven years on from harvest and just starting to swell and hit … Read More

The Landing Bay of Islands Syrah 2019

24 December 2020By Yvonne

The Landing Bay of Islands Syrah 2019 $48 Well if you’re not seduced by the style, texture and grooviness of the label of this bottle for starters, then the elegant red fruits, soft pepper and stylish spice layers in this syrah will totally turn you sideways. Red cherry, soft blueberry and white pepper characters wash … Read More

Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2018

9 August 2020By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2018 $150 THE TECHNICAL: This is the new vintage release of one of New Zealand’s most sought-after syrah’s.  Produced only in years when the fruit is exceptional, the 2018 Homage was crafted from 99.6% syrah and 0.4% viognier hand-harvested from three different Gimblett Gravels sites including 70% Gimblett Estate, 19% Tin … Read More

Hāhā Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019

15 July 2020By Yvonne

Hāhā Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $24 If you’re hunting for a ripe, friendly, pepper-sprinkled sensation to sip on a chilly night or a hot afternoon whilst working the BBQ, then this will rock your casbah. Smooth, velvety and tastes like its been in the bottle for ages despite being brand new, this quaffably good introduction … Read More

Waimarie Huapai Syrah 2014

4 July 2020By Yvonne

Waimarie Huapai Syrah 2014 $140 per doz  Crafted by winemaker Steve Nobilo, this wine is dedicated to the memory of his grandparents, the late Nikola and Zuva Nobilo, and it was grown on theoriginal vineyard site of the Nobilo family in Huapai, West Auckland and made together with his uncle Mark.  It’s perfumed with classic … Read More

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019

30 June 2020By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $19.99 That so much pure, Hawke’s Bay syrah-ness is able to be crammed inside a bottle for just $20 just blows my mind. Yet in the hands of the team at Trinity Hill, any syrah grape can feel confident that it’ll be shepherded into the bottle with the best … Read More