Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Syrah is fast becoming a key variety for Hawkes Bay and New Zealand, producing distinctive, complex and aromatic wines of exceptional quality that are achieving international acclaim. At the 2018 Global Syrah Masters, Drinks business UK identified Hawke’s Bay as one of the top four Syrah regions in the world. This is a fragrant, supple and full-bodied example that exudes dark berry fruit, lifted floral and spice aromas, and a powerful palate structure that will reward cellaring.
A core of dark plum and red and black berry fruits are overlaid with classic Hawkes Bay Syrah floral perfume and exotic warm spice. There are also darker liquorice, mineral and earth notes that bring a serious brooding undertone, while subtle oak brings extra complexity and texture, imparting notes of vanilla, roasted cacao and a hint of smoke. On the palate the wine is medium-full bodied with an impression of sweet fruit and long finish driven by silky tannins and gentle acidity. Well matched to a wide range of full flavoured game and red meat dishes."
Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, April 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Varietal, toasty, dark fruited, spicy and broody, youthful, complex and engaging. Delicious, and wonderfully expressive on the palate with textures from fruit and wood, flavours of dark raspberry and roasted plum, black currant and dry gravel soil qualities. Lengthy, complex, with a core of fruit and dark spices of wood. Best drinking from 2023 through 2033+."
4 ½ Stars & Top 10, Cuisine NZ Syrah Tasting, June 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"An abundant nose with aromas of red fruits, plums, florals, baking spices and liquorice all present and working in harmony. On the palate, the fruit sweetness works well alongside the silky tannin and generous, yet well-integrated, oak."
Reviews for the 2019 vintage below…
5 Stars Michael Cooper (2019 Vintage)
"The classy 2019 vintage is a highly fragrant, powerful, savoury red, estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle (74 per cent) and the Gimblett Gravels (26 per cent). It was matured for 17 months in French oak barriques (27 per cent new). Deeply coloured and still purple-flushed, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and supple, with concentrated plum and spice flavours, oak complexity, and a finely textured, long, spicy finish. Drink now and over the next decade."