Five Hawke’s Bay syrahs to try
Church Road It was their McDonald Series Syrah 2013 that took Champion Wine of the Show at the 2015 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. The 2014 release is another exceptional wine. Fermented in French oak cuves, it can be enjoyed young, offering a soft and gentle palate texture alongside a subtle complexity.
Trinity Hill Hot on the heels of Stonecroft, Trinity Hill purchased land in Gimblett Gravels in 1993. Its 2015 syrah is very accessible, and blended with a small amount of viognier, making it an exciting wine to drink young, as well as to cellar. Trinity Hill’s architecturally designed winery also offers a reminder of the area’s industrial heritage.
Stonecroft The original Gimblett Gravels vineyard. The Limmer family has moved on, but the vineyard still keeps to the same sustainable and organic principles on which it was founded. The 2014 Reserve Syrah offers up flavours of dark stone fruits, chocolate, liquorice and mixed spice. Best to cellar.
Te Awa Their single estate range from Gimblett Gravels is a lovely collection of rich, deep reds. The syrah can be cellared for up to 10 years to develop on the wonderful complexity already present. A great cellar door to visit, their award-winning restaurant is well worth a try.
Elephant Hill 2013 was an exceptional vintage and widely rated as one of the best ever. The 2013 Reserve Syrah is made with syrah from Elephant Hill’s Gimblett Gravels vineyard (85%) and Te Awanga Vineyard (14%) with 1% viognier co-fermented into the blend. The wine is dense and concentrated with red and black berry fruit characters, pepper and spice. Will age very well.