"Chalk Ridge" SV Hawkes Bay Syrah 2015

CHAMPION SYRAH/GOLD MEDAL - Bragato Wine Awards 2017 "The essense of Hawkes Bay syrah"

Winemakers Notes

This wine is based on our Chalk Ridge block, just to the south of Havelock North. It is a steep, north facing amphitheatre that is strewn with fossilised limestone.

We hand harvested the block in two passes on 8^th April and 19^th April. Normally we harvest a dash of Viognier at the same time, but this year the Viognier didn’t make it! The two parcels were separately vinified and aged in French oak until 14^th September 2016. The final assemblage includes 40% new oak. The wine was bottled on 21^st December 2016.

Analysis

Alc	13.5%
Acid	5.9 g/L
Res sugar	2.0 g/L
pH	3.66

Tasting Notes

Colour:	A beautiful deep purple/red, with a dense, dark core and bright, flashing purple rim.
Bouquet:	The essence of Hawkes Bay Syrah: masses of black fruits, a touch of pepper, some meatiness and lovely, savoury oak.
Palate:	A beautifully structured wine. Medium to full bodied with silken tannins and great length. The fruit in the mid palate lasts and lasts.

Cellaring
Already approachable, but we expect this wine to cellar for a number of years.

Food Matches
The soft tannins, ripe fruit flavours, black pepper and spice make this wine a great accompaniment to many meat dishes such as lamb, venison, beef and game. The bolder and more complex style means that it will stand up to richer flavours and accompaniments.

Suggested wine list description
A rich and full-bodied wine full of dark fruit flavours with lashings of black pepper and a long savoury finish.

Independent Reviewer’s Comment
“Dark, with an invitingly fragrant, aromatic bouquet (1.5% viognier) of violets, boysenberry and licorice. Fresh, with intense, ripe plum and spice flavours, vibrant, silky-textured and long. Fine value.” Michael Cooper

Awards