Mills Reef Estate Hawkes Bay Syrah

This delightful Estate Syrah was sourced from a specially selected vineyard in Hawkes Bay. The 2018 growing season experienced a very warm summer and early autumn, which led to a record number of growing degree days for that period, interspersed with welcome intermittent rain. Despite predictions for a later harvest, these conditions proved perfect for ripening, and the fruit was picked in late March 2018.

After a brief cold soak to extract important colour and flavour components, the must was fermented in closed-top stainless steel vats, before being pressed off skins.  The wine was sent to barrel for seven months aging in a selection of French and American seasoned oak , unfined to retain the wines natural flavours, and filtered just before bottling on 18 December 2018, under Stelvin screw cap.

This medium-bodied Syrah shows an abundance of blueberry fruit, violets and white pepper, complemented by spicy cedary oak.  Ready for immediate enjoyment, it will also reward cellaring.