The Auswine Forum

Has anyone tasted the newly released Craggy Range Le Sol syrah 2008?

If not, does anyone know how the 2008 vintage rates in Hawkes Bay? As with here, it seems that every second vintage is "the best vintage ever", so I would be interested in some objective assessments.

Thanks.

Just saw an email advertising this. Will be one i skip. Dunno if I will get a chance to try it or not. 2008 in most cases is not as good as 2007. I would say there is less of it around this year.

I bought the 07, but wont buy 08. No doubt the 08 Le Sol is excellent but I would be surprised if it was genuinely better than the 07.

08 was OK for syrah, bad for cabernet -- it rained at the end of the vintage before most of the cab could be picked. There are reports of some good 08 syrahs: Gourmet Traveller wrote some up, and my guys at Unison are very happy with their new one, although they made only 200 cases.

09 obviously a cracker, and apparently the long autumn should ensure the 10s are pretty smart too. From what I gather 09 will lift the benchmark, followed by 07. It's bound to happen in the relative early days of a region.

yeah ok at the most for syrah. name a hb 08 Syrah that is better than its 07 predecessor?? for 08 syrah's id generally go shopping waiheke. 08 there is no homage but im sure as i said 08 le sol isn't a bad wine.

08 coleraine is fantastic so not a total write off for cab blends. However with 08 being so great in Auckland there is no need to hunt too hard among Hawkes Bay 08's whether it be syrah or bdx blends. I have 08 te whau + stonyridge for starters and anxiously await 08 puriri hills releases which should see the light of day in the next few months.

Yes I see unison has released 08 syrah. i will no doubt buy as i have every other vintage of their syrah (and unison selectrion) in the cellar. i just wish they would hurry up and release the 07 unison selection. It has been a very long wait!! At least it is now in the bottle.

09 does look good in both Hawkes Bay and Auckland. Te Mata is extremely excited about the '09 wines, so is Esk Valley. it was a hot vintage vs the long, dry and moderate heat of 07. Terraces will be produced in 09 for the first time since 06. Although Auckland got some rain right at the end of vintage it wasn't enough to derail a top vintage, clay helps at times. Stonyridge expects 09 to be as good as 08. Most other waiheke wineries the same. Puriri Hills has some stunning carmenere from 09 "best ever" from their short history.

'10 saw Auckland take a head start but I did note March and April were stunning also in Hawkes Bay so they could be close on the tail of Auckland which surely will produce their best ever wines. Kumeu River and Puriri Hills are having kittens over the quality of the fruit they pulled in though Kumeu river said it was a small vintage. Stonyridge is also very happy, mudbrick happy with quality but not quantity - poor fruit set. '10 when I was in Hawkes Bay in March they were cautiously optimistic, though it appears the end of vintage was excellent. Haven't got any specific winery feedback post vintage though.