February 10, 2022 - Another bottle drinking similarly to in my 2021 TN. At age 15, on its optimal drinking plateau. I am confident - under the composite or synthetic cork, I’m not sure which - it will drink like this until at least 2026 and potentially out until 2030+. The 14.2% ABV alcohol is not over-prominent. Showing good Syrah typicity, some nice dried herbs and a dash of black pepper.
November 16, 2021 - Under composite (it looks like) cork. Decanted, took 2+ hours to open up. Plush, ripe and dark fruited. Blackberries, cassis, dark spices and a dash of black pepper. Fully mature but not at al secondary (let alone tertiary). Still some creamy, vanillin oak yet to fully integrate. Now ready for drinking. Decent volume and concentration. Acceptable acidity. Some dried herbs nuance. Drink now until 2026+.
January 2, 2015 - Very dark color and rich in flavor. Needed about 30 minutes to open up and kept getting better over time. Very good.
April 18, 2014 - Decanted due to sediment, but it did not need a lot of airtime. Tasted best the first two hours. A really great showing. Raspberry and blackberry notes are fresh and backed by plenty of acidity. There are more complex wines, but this was delicious and finely balanced.
May 29, 2013 - Excellent syrah. Nicely structured and holding together well. Would buy again at $23.
May 26, 2013 - Tasty syrah. On the nose some raspberries and earthy component. On the palate very balanced mix of earth, oak and dark fruit, more savory than fruity quite nice. 89-90.
February 8, 2013 - Very earthy taste and closed early on. As it opened up it lost the smell and dark fruit taste came out. Probably need to decant this next bottle
January 19, 2013 - Dense, deep, dark ruby color. Nose of black and blue fruits, lavender, soil, and oak. Medium bodied with similar flavors, along with a good dose of licorice, and notably bright acidity, leaving a tart black raspberry note on the medium+ finish. Mid-palate is a little hollow, but overall this is well made and enjoyable syrah. Feels more N. Rhone than any other region to me, and it's a great food wine (I'm admittedly inexperienced with NZ syrah, so lack this region for basis of comparison). Balsamic or Worcester marinated steak would be great with this, though steak fajitas were just fine as well. Pretty firm structure, and that combined with the fruit and acidity suggest to me that a yr. or 2 might do some good, but def. enjoyed it now. I like this style.
October 25, 2012 - - Brick color - Pnp through Nuance wine finer. Dark and thick. Ripe berries on the nose. On the palate, fairly balanced. Good dark fruit, with some wood and a bit of chocolateyness. A little tart on the finish. Solid 87+ points. Aloha!
October 15, 2012 - The wine has a lot of sediment. It is drinkable, but muddy. It is neither refined or complex. Nothing exciting. Strong tannins but coarse. Not much fruits either. Just scratching my head why it is off the mark. Have a couple more bottles in cellar. Will report a year later.