Cable Bay Waiheke Island Syrah 2019

From grapes grown on naturally low yielding, 22 year old vines, this wine is vibrant, fresh and layered with charisma. This partial whole bunch ferment Syrah bounces with blueberry, black cherry, liquorice and earthy spice. The palate is both intense and delicate, has lovely body, with supple juicy fruit and spice paving the way to great textural mouth feel and solid, shapely tannin structure. Waiheke Syrah at its most refined and beautiful.

This wine is from predominantly Hermitage MS clone Syrah vines grown on a single vineyard site in our estate owned Waiheke Island Vineyard. The vineyard site is situated on a sun-drenched, north facing slope with predominantly mineralised clay soils and volcanic ash, over Jurassic era rock. The viticulture is meticulous, with the aim of balanced, heathy vines, which bear beautifully ripe grapes with intense concentration of natural Syrah characteristics. Harvesting perfect fruit is our first priority

These Syrah grapes were handpicked in late March 2019, and immediately transferred into open top fermenters in our winery. The ferment was predominantly whole berry, with a portion of whole bunch in there too. We fermented some with wild yeast, and some with carefully selected strains. At pressing, only the free run wine was retained, and run to French oak puncheons and barriques. In oak, it aged for 9 months before assemblage, and then a further 2 months integrating together as a blend in tank, before bottling.

Fermented in steel open tops, matured in French oak puncheons