Greystone Wines
Syrah 2019 750ml

Spice driven elegant Syrah

Deep black ruby in colour with a nose of black peppercorns, blackberries and herbal notes of thyme and marjoram. Palate of juicy Black Doris plums, red berries and game meats with bright acidity, structured tannins and a long, lingering savoury finish. Think more of your Northern Rhone here than your typical New World jammier Syrah styles. This is a single steep block next to the Purepod cabin atop our hillside here in Omihi and facing into the Nor'west winds. The slope exposes the grapes to the wine and allows plenty of sunshine to get wine of great spice and intensity.

"The intensity of pepper here is really something. So much rotundone. Bright red berries abound, as well as leafy elements. The texture is so crunchy and the flavors of red berries, blackberries and chocolate are so lively. Drink or hold." 91 Points James Suckling

Viticulturist's Notes

The first week of November and the month of December were very hot and dry - perfect conditions for flowering. The vines produced a solid crop with large bunches. Careful leaf plucking to open the canopy and significant bunch thinning was required to ensure quality targets were met. Rain in January and February gave the soils a top up and ensured canopies stayed healthy. Overall one of the warmest seasons of the last 10 years.

Winemaker's Notes

Our small hillside block of Syrah was hand­ picked at the end of the 2018 harvest. Fruit was then hand sorted before being fully destemmed as it went to open top fermenters. A cold-soak lasted for 4 days before natural fermentation started and warmed naturally to 30 degrees at peak temperature. The resulting wine contains both sensuous aromatics and fine grape tannins. The wine was matured for 15 months in 28% new French oak barriques, before estate bottling without fining or filtration.

Serving Notes

This wine will benefit from some aging to allow greater complexity to develop. This is our favourite wine to pair with gamey wild dishes or smoky flavours- it has a natural spice component on the nose that is so distinctly NZ Syrah. Perfect with seared wild venison, smoked brisket or a rich tomato and porcini ragu.

Wine Specs

Vintage: 2018

Varietal: Syrah

Appellation: Waipara Valley North Canterbury

Alcohol: 13.5

pH: 3.71

Fermentation: 28% new oak

Harvest Date: 2018-04-12

Bottling Date: 2019-10-10

Cases Produced: 217

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Minimum order: 4 bottles across Greystone Wines' range.