Satisfying, solid Syrah line-up

• Author: Mark Henderson
• Published date: 25 January 2023
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

I had been collecting a line-up to taste, but then, just to turn things on its head a Syrah from Marlborough and then another from Central Otago arrived to join the mix

Rare beasts indeed given Hawke's Bay's dominance with this variety.

Covering the price gamut, it was a fascinating mix.

2019 Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Bendigo Syrah

Price RRP $60

Rating Excellent to Outstanding

Attractively floral,

violets, meaty

savoury notes,

charcuterie, spices,

a wisp of leather.

Powerfully fruited,

darker fruits, spice

and savoury notes

again matched by

mouth-puckering

tannins. The tannins

settle as the wine

opens out, great

length and depth of

flavour, blood and

iron filings to the

close. Complexity,

interest, good grip.

www.mtdifficulty.nz

2019 Elephant Hill Stone Hawke's Bay Syrah

Price RRP $59

Rating Very Good to Excellent

A fascinating touch of

funkiness leads, some

sweet oak scents,

savoury qualities,

pencil shavings.

Sweetly fruited, red

fruits and berryfruits, a

hint of toffee too

before the tannins

rush in showing real

grip and chewiness

that takes this to a

drier close with black

tea notes. That

funkiness becomes

more apparent over

time, clouding the

other flavours.

www.elephanthill.co.nz

2020 Trinity Hill Thomson's Block Single Vineyard Hawke's Bay Syrah

Price RRP $120

Rating Outstanding

Perfumed florality

ebbs to forest floor

notes before meaty

savoury qualities

come into play, a little

dried herb too. A

powerful example,

great flavour intensity

with a freshening note

of leaf/mint with a

savoury undercurrent.

Fine tannins, lovely

balance, persistence

and length and within

its power there's a

sense of elegance.

Gorgeous texture.

www.trinityhill.com

2020 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah

Price RRP $39.99

Rating Excellent

A perfume to this, a

melange of herb

and flowers, yeasty

umami notes, an

earthy quality

underneath, fruit in

support. A tighter,

cooler feel , shows

its youthful side.

Mixed berries, tilled

earth, a deceptively

powerful tannic

backbone gives

real chewiness.

More to come I feel

so give it some air

or pair with food to

show its best.

www.trinityhill.com

2019 Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke's Bay Syrah

Price RRP $125

Rating Excellent

Fragrant nose with

wisps of warm

leather and

balsamic, dusty

stones, savoury

notes rising, darker

fruits. Fruit richness

leads, a touch of

funky wildness,

bloody, savoury

notes again with a

refreshing tangy

quality. Hits some

different buttons,

firm, with a youthful

angularity that begs

a little more time to

come...