Unison Gimblett Gravels Rocky Syrah 2017

31 August 2019By Yvonne

Unison Gimblett Gravels Rocky Syrah 2017 $60 Syrah lovers will launch into a happy dance I’m sure, as soon as they sip this new release from one of Hawke’s Bay’s most acclaimed syrah haus’s.  The ‘Rocky’ is testament to how elegant and statuesque cool-climate syrah can be when built well.  The deep, ancient riverbed gravels … Read More

Pask Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018

30 July 2019By Yvonne

Pask Gimblet Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $18 If this wine was a person it’d be Sergeant Pepper!! If it were fizzy it’d be Dr Pepper and if it were a British cartoon character, it’d be Pepper Pig – I think you dig. Classic, peppery pepperiness on the nose of this Gimblett Gravels goodie. Violet … Read More

Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018

2 July 2019By Yvonne

Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $28.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, a winemaker seemingly blessed with the syrah version of jazz hands for every vintage, this is a plum and pepper-scented sensation was sourced from fruit grown west of Hastings, an area famous for producing the iron-rich, Bridge Pa soils and the prestigious, deep, … Read More

Mount Riley Marlborough Syrah 2018

10 June 2019By Yvonne

Mount Riley Marlborough Syrah 2018 $20 Visitors to the Mount Riley cellar door on Malthouse Road just outside of Blenheim, will be the only ones lucky enough to get their hands on this super-tasty (and super-rare) southern syrah crafted by Matt Murphy.  Scented with bright berries, cherry, boysenberry and fresh herbs, on the palate its … Read More

Petane Station Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018

28 April 2019By Yvonne

Petane Station Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $30 If you’re not familiar with the eye-rollingly lovely ‘petrichor’ perfume, then stick your nose deep into a glass of this shiny new syrah from one of Hawke’s Bay’s brightest producers and relish that rain-on-hot-asphalt aroma. Boosted with black currant, bay leaf, violets and a smorgasbord of savory layers … Read More

Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018

24 April 2019By Yvonne

Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $19 Bright and floral and fanging with violets and cherry and all sorts of spices on the nose, this fresh and feisty syrah has ripe plum, raspberry and cranberry characters on the palate.  The tannins are easy, elastic and ever-so-powdery, plus there’s a softness on the finish.  Superb … Read More

Little Wing Waiheke Island Syrah 2016

23 April 2019By Yvonne

Little Wing Waiheke Island Syrah 2016 $60 This is Gillian and Gareth MacLachlan’s red riot. They became obsessed with Syrah after working in the Northern Rhone in 2010, so when the opportunity came along to purchase a semi-abandoned oceanfront vineyard on Waiheke Island years later, of course syrah was compulsory!  Planted on heavy clays, super-close … Read More

Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Almansa Syrah 2014

30 March 2019By Yvonne

Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Almansa Syrah 2014 ($15.95) A soft, easy, super-fruity syrah like this is just the ticket for a soothing sip to serve with anything meaty and spicy.  This Spanish smooth-talker adds berries and spice and all things nice to anyone who prefers blueberry and leather notes in their syrah and less of the … Read More

Cypress Terraces Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014

11 February 2019By Yvonne

Cypress Terraces Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 $42  Mel and Gus Lawson knew their terraced hillside vineyard would produce some of the most sensational syrah in the region, I’d say they could feel it in their waters, but truth be told, water is not something they see much of and the vines border on dehydration and … Read More

Mudbrick Reserve Waiheke Island Syrah 2018

16 January 2019By Yvonne

Mudbrick Reserve Waiheke Island Syrah 2018 $75  I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I tasted a syrah that was so young yet sang so beautifully on the palate.  Winemaker Patrick Newton has woven some witchcraft with what’s quite clearly plump, flavour-stacked fruit, to produce an ultra-velvety syrah, stitched together with cracked pepper, boysenberries, … Read More