WINES
Syrah
The style and flavour profile of wines made from Syrah are influenced by the climate where the grapes are grown such as the northern Rhône Valley in France. This tends to produce medium to full-bodied wines with higher levels of tannins and notes of blackberry, mint and black pepper. In hot climates like some regions of Australia, Syrah is more consistently full-bodied with softer tannins, jammier fruit and is more often called Shiraz.
Learn More About This Varietal
Tasting Notes
Vintage Overview
After a lower yielding 2021 vintage, Marlborough was blessed with outstanding weather in December providing near perfect flowering conditions and a subsequent great fruit set. This translated into an increased number of berries per bunch, which helped offset the slightly lower than average bunch numbers which resulted from the cooler weather we experienced during flowering in 2020.
The great weather conditions continued through January with above average daily temperatures and sunshine hours, punctuated by timely periods of rainfall ensuring optimal soil water status, resulting in
great canopy development and health. With the weather initially looking like it was shaping up to translate into an early start to harvest, we saw periods with cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in late January and early February, slowing development and extending the ripening period.
Harvest commenced in the 3rd week of March and concluded at the end of April. The extended ripening period has resulted in wines with great balance and poise, combining ripe tropical elements with bright mineral acidity, ensuring some outstanding components to go into this years blends.
Vinification
Sourced from the Angler vineyard, grapes were hand harvested in the cool of the morning followed by cold maceration for 5 days to extract colour and subtle tannins. Fermented in small open top oak cuves with minimal hand plunging, the skins were basket pressed to French oak barriques for 18 months maturation prior to blending and bottling. Bottled un-fined and un-filtered, some natural sedimentation may occur.
Flavour Profile
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Plum
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Dark Chocolate
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White Pepper
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Leather
Technical Data
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Alc
13%
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TA
5.8 g/L
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pH
3.7
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RS
0.17 g/L
Harvested 4th April
Vineyard Composition
Regional Overview
The Wairau Valley is one of three zones – along with the Southern Valleys and the Awatere Valley – which make up the heartland of New Zealand's Marlborough wine region. It accounts for approximately 45 percent of plantings within the wider region. An extensive patchwork of vineyards surrounds the town of Blenheim in the north-eastern corner of the South Island, near where the Wairau River meets the Pacific Ocean.
The Wairau Valley is a wide river valley that follows the Wairau River from the Spenser Mountains in the west to the Pacific at Cloudy Bay. The Richmond Mountains in the north separate it from the sunny region of Nelson, and the Wither Hills in the south protect the valley from harsh weather systems from the south-east.
In the low-lying area along the Wairau River Rapaura and Renwick are the most established zones. However in recent years vineyard plantings have extended further west along the narrow valley floor.
Wairau Valley has a warm, dry climate that is moderated during the growing season by sea breezes from Cloudy Bay. Hot sunshine during the day and cold ocean winds at night extend the ripening period in the grapes, leading to a balance of fruit complexity and acidity. This diurnal temperature variation is essential to the terroir in the Wairau Valley – without it, much of the classic punchiness of the wines made here would be lost.
Varietal FAQs
Where are your wines made?
All our wines are made on site in our winery. We draw fruit from our 15 estate vineyards, which means they are owned by us. We built our winery in 2002.
Can I visit your vineyard / winery and do you offer winery tours and tastings?
Our Restaurant & Cellar Door is closed for the time being, and unfortunately due to health and safety regulations we are unable to have visitors at our winery.
How can I keep the wine fresh once a bottle has been opened?
To keep an open bottle of wine fresh, ensure the cap is tightly sealed after every glass pour. Our white wines and rosé should be stored, cap on, in a refrigerator to slow down oxidisation. For our red wines, keep the wine bottle out of light and stored at room temperature (below 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit), or in a refrigerator.
How long will your wine last when opened?
White wines are good for 1-2 days and red wines for 3-5 days if stored correctly.
