NZ Syrah/Shiraz
NZ Syrah/Shiraz
I have been looking for a NZ Syrah / Shiraz to try as I have read a few reviews on a NZ blog and they make them sound like they are some what in front of the Oz shiraz in quality ( they seem to be all considered as cool climate wines) but they seem to be hard to come by here in Oz suburbia so can anyone recommend a brand and year and suggest where to buy?
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
You can find the Villa Maria or Te Awa syrah for <$30. Of course if you wanted to go to the other end of the price spectrum, get the Craggy Range Le Sol.
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
The Craggy Range and Te Mata ranges shouldn't be too hard to find. Also look for Church Road, Bilancia, and then watch for Craig(NZ)'s response to this thread.
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
I'll add Trinity Hill Homage to the list!
2009 & 2010 are cracker years for Hawkes Bay.
2009 & 2010 are cracker years for Hawkes Bay.
Lawrie
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Mark Carrington
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Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
In addition to the strong recommendations above Fromm produces decent Syrah from Marlborough - my preference is for the basic selection over La Strada.
CR's Le Sol & Bilancia's La Collina are excellent if the intention is to head to the top end. (Not tried TH Hommage).
CR's Le Sol & Bilancia's La Collina are excellent if the intention is to head to the top end. (Not tried TH Hommage).
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
Syrah was under 0.3% of NZ exports in 2012, so not surprising it's hard to find, let alone the good ones, most of which never make it this far! And they don't tend to be cheap.
Hawkes Bay, Waiheke and Marlborough do the vast majority of good Syrah, and FWIW, 07 was a standout vintage, 08/09 were mixed, 2010 was mostly excellent, but 2011 and 2012 very mixed overall (except for a good 2012 in Central Otago).
Good reco's here so far. It's not cheap, and needs time ideally, but Craggy Range Le Sol is good and fairly easy to find, but in a bigger style compared to some of more 'cooler climate' NZ styles. You may also see some of the Trinity Hills, Man O War, Te Mata, CJ Pask, Villa Maria and Mission stuff scattered around the burbs, all are solid producers, as is Fromm, but most are rare over here in Oz. Worth a look though!
Hawkes Bay, Waiheke and Marlborough do the vast majority of good Syrah, and FWIW, 07 was a standout vintage, 08/09 were mixed, 2010 was mostly excellent, but 2011 and 2012 very mixed overall (except for a good 2012 in Central Otago).
Good reco's here so far. It's not cheap, and needs time ideally, but Craggy Range Le Sol is good and fairly easy to find, but in a bigger style compared to some of more 'cooler climate' NZ styles. You may also see some of the Trinity Hills, Man O War, Te Mata, CJ Pask, Villa Maria and Mission stuff scattered around the burbs, all are solid producers, as is Fromm, but most are rare over here in Oz. Worth a look though!
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
I've only had it once but the Providence Syrah was great.
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
Not much to add. people above have good recomendations
From Hawkes Bay. Best recent vintages for Syrah 04,07,09,10. 09 especially! 05 and 08 for me were weak for syrah.
Best Money no option options:
Craggy Range Le Sol. I thought the 2010 was magnificent and easily worth $100 a bottle. Yes it is big but very very polished. It has a "world class" feel to it to me. really quite special. I think it is worth the money. it is no pretender. Massive cellaring potential. These are at least 20 year wines, probably more. The 09 will last even longer but is a bigger wine still. $100
Bilancia La Collina. A similar style to the Le Sol. Plush and seductive. $90
Trinity Hill Homage. I haven't actually tried the recent vintages of this. 07 was the last one I tried. I found them detailed and complete and i hear the recent vintages are another step up. It is slighty more finely boned than Le Sol or La Collina $120
Stonecroft. The original HB Syrah. The 07 is stunning at the moment. price hike after ownership change but some very old vines support this wine. it is pretty damn tasty $65ish now?
Onto the best vfm from HB:
Church Road Reserve. There is a fair chunk of polished oak here but no more than an Aussie. I think it is outstanding vfm. Jury is out how it performs over time in the cellar but it certainly is an attractive wine young. Seems to polarise, but I will leave the arguing for others as i hand over 23 notes pb and fill my trolley. There is now a "Grand Reserve" label I see on the website but I am yet to even see it on a shelf.
Unison Seems to be taking the mantle of Unisons top wine away from their Selection $45
Te Mata Bullnose especially if you can get hold of an 09 or even 10. More restrained and classy style $50
Craggy Range Gimblet Gravels (used to be called block 14) Another great wine that can be had on special for between $25-30
From Waiheke. Best recent Vintages 05,08,10.
Stonyridge Pilgrim. Lost in the shadow of Larose but this is top stuff. Very classy and magically perfumed $85
Passage Rock Reserve These seem to be quite big and need time to settle in the cellar but after a few years are damn impressive. $70+ now?? its taken a bit of a price hike
Vintage-wise for both Waiheke and Hawkes Bay 11 was really just ok, 12 the worst for a while. grab the vintages above that remain or wait for 13 which is a great vintage for both regions
From Hawkes Bay. Best recent vintages for Syrah 04,07,09,10. 09 especially! 05 and 08 for me were weak for syrah.
Best Money no option options:
Craggy Range Le Sol. I thought the 2010 was magnificent and easily worth $100 a bottle. Yes it is big but very very polished. It has a "world class" feel to it to me. really quite special. I think it is worth the money. it is no pretender. Massive cellaring potential. These are at least 20 year wines, probably more. The 09 will last even longer but is a bigger wine still. $100
Bilancia La Collina. A similar style to the Le Sol. Plush and seductive. $90
Trinity Hill Homage. I haven't actually tried the recent vintages of this. 07 was the last one I tried. I found them detailed and complete and i hear the recent vintages are another step up. It is slighty more finely boned than Le Sol or La Collina $120
Stonecroft. The original HB Syrah. The 07 is stunning at the moment. price hike after ownership change but some very old vines support this wine. it is pretty damn tasty $65ish now?
Onto the best vfm from HB:
Church Road Reserve. There is a fair chunk of polished oak here but no more than an Aussie. I think it is outstanding vfm. Jury is out how it performs over time in the cellar but it certainly is an attractive wine young. Seems to polarise, but I will leave the arguing for others as i hand over 23 notes pb and fill my trolley. There is now a "Grand Reserve" label I see on the website but I am yet to even see it on a shelf.
Unison Seems to be taking the mantle of Unisons top wine away from their Selection $45
Te Mata Bullnose especially if you can get hold of an 09 or even 10. More restrained and classy style $50
Craggy Range Gimblet Gravels (used to be called block 14) Another great wine that can be had on special for between $25-30
From Waiheke. Best recent Vintages 05,08,10.
Stonyridge Pilgrim. Lost in the shadow of Larose but this is top stuff. Very classy and magically perfumed $85
Passage Rock Reserve These seem to be quite big and need time to settle in the cellar but after a few years are damn impressive. $70+ now?? its taken a bit of a price hike
Vintage-wise for both Waiheke and Hawkes Bay 11 was really just ok, 12 the worst for a while. grab the vintages above that remain or wait for 13 which is a great vintage for both regions
Last edited by Craig(NZ) on Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
I've only had it once but the Providence Syrah was great.
Yes but very expensive and very difficult to get
Re: NZ Syrah/Shiraz
thanks for all the suggestions. I have tried the Te Mata Bullnose and the Villa Maria so far. Will keep trying, theres not many good wine outlets around where I live, just Woollies and Coles so its hard to find somewhere with a good range.