ELEPHANT HILL STONE SYRAH 2020

Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Our STONE vineyard is composed of gravel and silt layers originally formed after a great flood of the Ngaruroro river in 1867. The river stones absorbs and radiate heat on the vines to create concentrated, structured, bold, ageworthy wines."

5 Stars & 97/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, September 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"With outstanding fruit purity, it’s splendidly composed and expressed on the nose, showing blackberry, violet, clove, tapenade and roasted not characters. The powerfully expressed palate delivers plush texture combined with bold tannins, making it robust and sturdy. It’s solidly built while offering beautiful balanced and harmony. At its best: 2025 to 2037."

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
"The finely crafted 2020 vintage was estate-grown in the Stone Vineyard, in the Gimblett Gravels, and matured for two years in French oak barrels (42 per cent new). Benchmark stuff, it is deeply coloured and mouthfilling, with highly concentrated, ripe plum, spice and black pepper flavours, and a complex, well-structured, very harmonious finish. Likely to be long-lived, it's well worth cellaring to 2027+."

5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2020 Vintage)
"Rich, concentrated and almost chewy red with ripe plum, cacao, mocha, cassis, leather and spicy French oak flavours. Accessible wine with a nice balance between fruit sweetness and pleasantly drying tannins. Should age well."

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"Hues of dark red ruby and light purple with a magenta rim lead to a bouquet of ripe red berry fruits and fresh meats, baking spices of vanilla and a touch of cinnamon then violet and stone earth suggestions. The oak has a layer of smoke then a new wood power. There’s also a fresh Brazil nut quality that come to mind. Overall a bright, youthful and engaging bouquet. A dry wine touches the palate with a youthful, fleshy texture, an abundance of tannins and refreshing acid line. Flavours reflect the bouquet centering of flavours of boysenberry and tart raspberry, there’s a light white pepper note then flavours from wood and earth. A wine that requires some settling in time with best drinking from 2025 through 2034."

5 Stars & 19.5/20 (97) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, October 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"Full, deep purple, lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly presented with alluring floral, minty herbs, meaty nuance, dark minerals overlying blackberry, blackcurrant and spice. Full-bodied, broody blackberry and blackcurrant aromas melded with black tea, peppercorn, violet and rich minty herbs. Stoney minerals reflect on fine-grained tannins, contributing a youthful yet velvety grip. The fruit is concentrated and rich; integrated acidity provides vitality and a long, herbaceous finish. This exceptional Syrah is concentrated, packed with black fruit and complex layers on a rich mouthfeel and lasting closing. Match with roasted lamb and venison backstrap over the next 12+ years. Fruit from 100% Stone vineyard in Gimblett Gravels, clone 91% MS and 9% 470, fermented with 10% whole cluster to 13% alc, natural MLF in spring. Aged 24 months in barrel, 42% new oak, further 4 months in tank on light lees. 290 cases produced."