EASTHOPE FAMILY WINEGROWERS HOME BLOCK SYRAH 2021

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Our Home Block vineyard is located in the Mangatahi sub-region, inland with 150 metres elevation and is tilted on a 6-degree angle to the North. These factors, combined with our vested hands in the vineyard, produce fruit with individual character and intensity.

This 2021 “Home Block” Syrah can only add to that reputation. Another glorious vintage of warm and dry conditions allowed fully mature grapes to be hand-picked. Our distinctive approach using only whole bunch fermentation is what adds cut, perfume, and spice to that ripe fruit base. Having said that, this vintage is a bit of a beast; it has immense weight, length and texture. Not quite Barossa like – but certainly at the ripest end of the Hawke’s Bay spectrum.

Incredibly dark colour, aromatically profuse with characters of plum, blueberry, aniseed and lavender. The palate is rich with fruit derived tannin and supporting French Oak characters. Its mouth-filling, rich and long. It may be many vintages before we produce another Syrah of this stature. Roast lamb is our go to match with this. But you might also enjoy this with strong hard cheeses, or on its own post meal."

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, November 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"A core of dark purple and ruby hues lead to a bouquet of fresh and baked raspberry, dark plums, fragrant spices and mild toasty barrel qualities with a whisper of wood smoke. Delicious on the palate with a core of dark red fruit flavours and fine savoury spice qualities. Violets and black currant, toasty barrel spices of clove and vanilla all leading to a long and complex finish. A wine best enjoyed from late 2023 through 2030+ if stored well."