This distinguished Syrah was grown in our two prestigious vineyards – Trust block (87%) and Mere Road (13%) in the highly acclaimed Gimblett Gravels of Hawkes Bay. The Trust block vineyard design embraces high plant density with extremely low yields per vine, in the pursuit of ultra premium wines.

The grapes were hand-picked between 15th and 20st April at 21° Brix, destemmed and fermentation initiated using selected yeast in a mix of fermentation vessels (quality oak, open top fermenters and stainless steel) to provide blending options, confining the temperature to 28 – 32oC.

Cap management entailed twice daily rummaging, plunging and turning of the barrels. On completion of fermentation, a 17 day post-ferment maceration on skins followed. The wine was pressed and transferred for aging into 300 litre hogshead barrels (80% French, 20% American of which 41% was new) for fifteen months. The final wine was lightly fined and cross flow filtered before bottling on 17 September under Stelvin screwcap.

This impressive Syrah, from the renowned Gimblett Gravels, is elegantly styled. A delightful floral bouquet teams with blackcurrant and white pepper, complimented with savoury, leather and toasty oak notes. Beautifully poised, it is highly enjoyable now, or to flourish with cellaring.