Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2006, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

This New Zealand Syrah has always been one of my favourites as it has been of consistent high quality for a long time (early 1990's). This 2006 wine was a blend of three clones of Syrah and carefully handled in the winery to retain all the elegant fruit flavours (careful destemming, warm-plunged-fermentation, extended maceration and malolatic fermentation).

This wine had all the classic character of Syrah - spicy, white pepper, blackberry and plum and hints of liquorice. The tannins were ripe and nicely integrated to give complexity and a smoothness that only becomes evident with careful cellaring. Overall a delicious aged example of this wine and further evidence that cellaring is highly rewarding.

Tasted July 2014.