Description
Captivating floral and perfumed aromas of ripe raspberries and blackberries, along with hints of Chinese five spice, black liquorice, and vanilla bean, lead to a concentrated yet vibrant palate where refined tannins and refreshing acidity combine to create a supple, silky texture and a spicy, succulent finish of outstanding length. A quintessential expression of Gimblett Gravels Syrah that will develop complex mineral, gamey characters with bottle age. A great accompaniment with red meat dishes, especially duck and venison
Awards
Trophy New Zealand International Wine Show
Gold New Zealand International Wine Show
95 pts Decanter Points
Alcohol
13.0%
Analytical data
dry
Vineyard
This wine is made from estate-grown grapes from the Tin Shed and Gimblett Stones vineyards. The Gimblett Gravels sub-region is known for its deep, free draining gravel soils in a unique microclimate. Soils were deposited by the Ngaruroro River as it changed course over many thousands of years. Their low fertility and excellent drainage give small crops of grapes with highly concentrated flavours and aromas.
Vinification
The Syrah grapes for this wine were hand harvested from estate-owned vineyards of individual sites and clones, and then fermented separately before blending post-fermentation. A range of maceration periods allowed for increased complexity. 30% of whole bunches were included in the fermentations to contribute freshness, aromatics and structure to the wine. A small percentage of Viognier skins were included in some batches to further aid in providing complexity and texture. The wine was then matured for eight months, entirely in 5,000 litre oak ovals, before bottling in February 2021.