Mystery Waiheke Island Syrah 2020

Description

Oak, Plum, Spice

This wine is made from grapes grown on naturally low yielding, 23 year old vines. As a consequence, the fruit has concentration, depth and complexity in flavour. On the nose, the wine expresses cassis and intricacies of black doris plum and pepper. On the palate it is opulent and velvety in texture, full of seduction and is well poised, demanding of your attention. This wine is both intense and delicate, has lovely body, with supple juicy fruit and spice paving the way to great textural mouth feel and solid, shapely tannin structure. A lovely reflection of the 2020 season.

This wine is made from Hermitage MS clone Syrah grapes grown on our Waiheke Island Estate Vineyard. The vineyard site is situated on a sun-drenched, north facing slope with predominantly mineralised clay soils and volcanic ash, over Jurassic era rock. The viticulture is meticulous, with the aim of balanced, heathy vines, which bear beautifully ripe grapes with intense concentration of natural Syrah characteristics. Harvesting perfect fruit is our first priority.

These Syrah grapes were handpicked in March 2020, and immediately transferred into open top fermenters in our winery. The ferment was predominantly whole berry, with 33% whole bunches. We fermented some with wild yeast, and some with carefully selected strains. At pressing, only the free run wine was retained, and run to French oak puncheons and barriques. In 28% new oak, it aged for 14 months before assemblage, and then a further 2 months integrating together as a blend in tank, before bottling.