#1 Highest Scored New Zealand Syrah for 2018 vintage. Gourmet Travellet 96 points.
Cameron Douglas MS 96 points, In the true expression of cool-climate Syrah, this wine exudes freshly cracked black pepper, crushed violets, red and black forest fruits and savoury smoky nuances. It has crunchy lifted acidity which carries the defined, fine-grain tannins and background of spicy, savoury oak. This wine is about fragrance and texture, which is assisted by our pioneering co-fermentation technique with a small proportion of skins as well as whole-cluster fermentation. The co-fermentation gives a white pepper spice quality to the flavour spectrum and intensifies and stabilises the brilliant purple hue of Syrah. The result is layers of complexity in flavour and tannins which will allow an intriguing long-term ageing potential.
Bob Campbell 96 points.
96 Points - (Top 3 New Zealand Syrah 2018) 'From the smallest vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels subregion. Co-fermented with 7% skins for colour stability, complexity of tannin and a spicy, aromatic lift. The wine certainly has a great depth of colour with rich, ripe flavours including Black Doris plum, liquorice, cocoa powder, mocha and a suggestion of violet. A generously proportioned wine with an appealingly supple texture. Should age well' Drink 2021 - 2030 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review 4/3/2021.
18 Points "Deepest crimson. Wildly peppery aroma with the fabulous perfume that I associate with the northern Rhône, all stony dark fruit and peonies. Just very slightly and attractively reductive, as top-notch Syrah tends to be. This is stunning: the best Blank Canvas Syrah I have tasted and likely to age well into serious complexity. It is deep but not at all sweet-fruited, dark-fruited, savoury, tarry, complex and has immense length. Just shows how well Syrah is suited to this region of NZ." Julia Harding MW | JancisRobinson.com 27/01/22.
