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![Reserve red]( "Reserve red")
Deep, almost inky purple hues lead to a dense and perfumed nose of pepper, black liquorice and graphite, alongside fragrant notes of violets and cocoa.
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Tasting Notes
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This seductive Syrah is a blend of parcels from our vineyards in Hawkes Bays Gimblett Gravels sub-region. 2020 delivered Syrah packed full of trademark flavours and aromas. Dense purple hues lead to a perfumed nose of blueberries, violet and subtle spice. Ripe tannins encase concentrated fruit characters on a long and silky palate. Careful cellaring of up to 10+ years will add further complexity.
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Vineyards and Winemaking
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Villa Maria’s Reserve Syrah vineyards are located in the Gimblett Gravels of Hawkes Bay. The free-draining soils, warm daytime temperatures and cool nights encourage naturally devigourated vines to ripen their low yields slowly and evenly. These factors, along with well-timed vineyard management techniques ensure the resulting wines are deeply coloured and well structured, with pure aromatics and flavours classic to the variety.
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Soils And Viticulture
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2020 will be remembered as a great Hawkes Bay vintage. Early season rainfall enabled healthy vines to get established before a hot dry Spring ensued. Some cooler weather in January helped preserve freshness and natural acidity in the grapes and a settled dry Autumn allowed fruit to be harvested in great condition with ripe flavours.
The beauty for which the best New Zealand Syrahs are gaining an international reputation is all here. Inky dark, this wine is exquisitely perfumed, offering an extravagance of violet, spice and pepper scents. In the mouth, dark cherry and blue fruit flavours are set against a molten texture, the result of dense fruit married to beautifully ripe, fine tannins. It flows seamlessly and finishes with a flourish. A classy rendition, not to mention just plain delicious. No.1 NZ Syrah, tasting #189
Cuisine Magazine
