2013 Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay

Craggy Range's flagship wine from a vintage that has been hailed as 'once in a lifetime'. Dense but not a heavy wine, lithe rather than blockbuster although certainly not lacking power. Tightly packed flavours including dark berry, Oriental spices, oak and a suggestion of floral characters are gradually displayed and will continue to be revealed as the wine ages. A truly classic Le Sol.

Varietal Syrah, 55 hl/ha, destemmed, mix of inoculated and wild ferment, aged in French oak for 18 months, 32% new. 13.1% alcohol. Brooding sweet black cherry and blackberry fruit nose with some fine peppery notes in the background. Sweetly aromatic and quite fresh. The palate shows sweet fruit, a taut presence and stylish spicy notes, together with a bit of pepper and well handled oak. A superb effort that on day 2 picks up some intensity and fleshiness. An exciting wine.

Unnecessarily heavy bottle with a huge punt. Inviting peppery aroma with darkest of cherry fruit. Both floral and peppery on the palate with a dry, dark peppery texture but super-subtle. Dusty/stony finish and the finest of tannins.

Intensely aromatic Syrah with dark berry and violets leading the charge. Oriental spices and spicy French oak are added on the palate. Clearly a powerful wine but with energy and poise too. A mouthwateringly vibrant red with a featherbed texture.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Le Sol (Syrah) has a very pretty nose of violets and red roses over a core of red and black cherries plus hints of cinnamon stick and star anise. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully crafted with elegant, perfumed red fruits supported by ripe, rounded tannins. It finishes with great length.

The style of this wine has evolved away from the massive ripeness and pure power in its early days to more finesse and elegance. It's still a rich wine, but silkier, with fresher fruit and more nuanced spice. Toasty oak seductively frames blueberry and plum fruit on the long finish. Drink now-2023.

Mørk, støvet og fortættet duft af brombær, sveskeblomme og skovbund. Blommen går igen i smagen sammen med lidt Krydderier og en frisk, syrerig og tætpakket frugt, peber og lakridspulver. Underspillet og virkelig elegant syrah. Virker ung Med langt lagringspotentiale. Skal have luft hvis den drikkes nu.

Og der står "the best and ripest bunches are selected", og så bliver jeg nervøs, for den slags plejer at indikere voldsomhed og overgjort koncentration, men tro om igen. Le Sol holder kun 13%. Den er syrahfarvet, sort i midten og med det rødlige skær en god côte-rôtie har. Næsen er lidt lukket i starten, kald den mut og knyttet, men smagen er frisk, letløbende, med sen ankomst af pulveragtig tannin. Stokkene står i den mest grusede og veldrænede del af Gimblett Gravels. Viol, lilje, røg og Friis-Holms La Dalia chokolade med 80% kakao. Craggy Range er mestre i syrah - et forbillede fra Hawkes Bay og New Zealand.

Vidunderlig duft af peber, hindbær og lakrids . Dyb og kompleks med en enorm koncentration. Raceren og lækker. Smager som stor Côte Rotie. New Zealands svar på Guigal!

Mørk, støvet og fortættet duft af brombær, sveskeblomme og skovbund. Blommen går igen i smagen sammen med lidt krydderier og en frisk, syrerig og tætpakket frugt, peber og lakridspulver. Underspillet og virkelig elegant Syrah. Virker ung med langt lagringspotentiale. Skal have luft, hvis den drikkes nu.