2019 Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay

Fabulous nose of concentration, power and richness: a core of black and red fruit scents and there’s no mistaking the layer of toasty barrel with sweet clove, vanilla and a touch of cedar. On the palate it's equally powerful, with a youthful firm texture from an abundance of wood and fruit tannins, and no mistaking the drive of acidity and core of fruit flavours. Blackcurrant and baked raspberry, plum and violets. Crumbled stony soil flavours add to an impressive mouthfeel and drive. Youthful, high energy and delicious.

A very impressive and impactful expression of syrah from the cooler climes of Hawke’s Bay, this offers red plum and blackberry, as well as pepper, violets, dry spices and stones. Very fragrant and complex. The palate is intense, with real purpose and direction to the clean-cut tannins. Long, pure darker-berry flavors abound. On form. Drink over the next eight years.

The richly fragrant and densely concentrated 2019 Syrah Le Sol offers complex layers of flavors, from smoky bacon to festive spices, violets to cherry cake; the intensity of flavor and focused core point to low-yielding, high-quality fruit. There's an abundance of serious tannins surrounding the core, and they're resolved and very fine. It's pleasing to see a more integrated use of new oak under new winemaker Julian Grounds, allowing the ripe fruit and gravelly site to speak, rather than a French forest. The next thing on the agenda? Please reduce the weight of the bottle. If I want to weight-train, I’ll go to the gym.