Brookfields Back Block Hawkes Bay Syrah 2020

Description

• French oak
• Dark berries
• Pepper
• Savoury tannins

The ‘Back Block’ Syrah has proven to be an excellent food wine; hence it is served in restaurants in New Zealand, Australia and in the United Kingdom. The 2020 ‘Back Block’ Syrah showcases dark berries, extractive and fleshy with savoury tannins and pepper notes. The palate is generous in fruit and supported by the well-integrated oak. Due to the excellent vintage in Hawkes Bay, the Syrah grapes were left on the vine until the 11th April, hence the ripe savoury flavours and low acidity.

The ‘Back Block’ vineyard is located at Ohiti Estate. While ‘back-block’ is a generic term - many people live in the back blocks (i.e. isolated hill country), and every farm has a back block. The ‘Back Block’ at Ohiti is exactly that, and is literally at the back, surrounded by hills on a shingle free draining terrace, facing to the north-east, thus ideal for growing and ripening Syrah grapes.

The fruit was harvested on the 11th of April, and tank fermented. Cap management was by pumping over. Time on the skins was at least two weeks. It was pressed and immediately went back into tank, for malolactic fermentation. This vintage has had at least 6 months in oak.

Food Pairing: An ideal pairing with a lamb cutlets and also Peking Duck.