Elephant Hill Syrah 2020, Hawke’s Bay, NZD $34
This is the estate bottling, which blends fruit from their three vineyards: Gimblett Gravels, Bridge Pa and Te Awanga. It includes a co-ferment with about 1% viognier (no doubt inspired by Côte-Rôtie). 22 months of ageing and harmonising in French oak has given it a smoothness and elegance which makes it approachable now despite hailing from a superb vintage (and therefore more than capable of ageing). One to buy by the case.
Dark crimson. A subtle, more muted nose with an inward quality. Suggestions of cinnamon, pepper, plum, blackberry and coffee with chocolate oak notes weaving in and out of the bouquet. The palate is showing the start of savoury development with late, integrated and smooth tannins. Overall, a seamless and well-measured package which has had time to come together nicely. The trimmed mid-weight flavours suggest the capacity to develop further in the near term. This wine is both elegant and sinewy in equal measure and drinking well now (Screwcap)
Score: 93 ★★★★ – view original tasting note
Alcohol: 13.0%
Ageing: now to 2030
Food: peppery Hungarian salami served with warm, wintery paella
Stockist: Elephant Hill Wines; Vino Fino, Christchurch and online; Caro’s Wines, Auckland and online; Regional Wines, Wellington and online; selected Super Liquor (NZ)
This Article was originally published on The Real Review
