Our Wines
Reserve Syrah 2020 (40th Anniversary label)
$60.00
Stonecroft has the oldest Syrah vines in New Zealand. These vines were rescued by the founder of Stoncroft, Dr. Alan Limmer, from the Te Kauwhata Research station and planted at Stonecroft in 1984. We still have the original row of vines. The Reserve Syrah is our flagship wine.
Description
Wine
Colour: Deep, dense ruby colour.
Aromatics: A complex bouquet with black and red fruit together with sweet spice.
Palate: Black fruit flavours, spice and vanilla are complemented by fine grained tannins.
Technical Info
Region: Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District®, Hawke’s Bay.
Vineyard: Roy’s Hill.
Variety: Syrah.
Harvest: Hand harvested between 18th April 2000.
Vinification: Fermented in open-top stainless steel fermenters. Hand plunged two times daily. Post fermentation soak for two to three weeks followed by maturation in barrel.
Maturation: Matured in French oak barriques for over 18 months (60% new).
Bottled: 26th January 2022.
Analysis: Alc 13,5% vol.
Closure: Natural Cork.
Cellaring Potential: 7-9 years.
Additional Information
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
|---|
Certified organic, the very ageworthy 2021 vintage (5*) was estate-grown in Mere Road and matured for over 18 months in French oak barriques (33 per cent new). Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, spicy, complex bouquet, it has fresh, concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, vigorous, savoury and finely balanced. Set for a long life, it's well worth cellaring to 2026+.
Michael Cooper
95/100. Fragrant syrah with floral, dense fruit/dark berries/blackcurrant, pepper and spice flavours. Youthful wine with excellent development potential. From a top vintage.
Bob Campbell
96 points. Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry mulberry brambly aromas with dark chocolate, mocha notes. Slinky textured wine with ample dark cherry, mulberry, cassis flavours, fine looseknit chalky tannins, very good mid palate volume and well balanced vanilla/ mocha oak. Finishes chalky firm with graphite notes. Drink now - 2030 13.5% alc
Andrew Caillard
95 points. Good deep, bold colour, white pepper overlying red and darker fruit aromas, sweetly ripe scents, the palate medium bodied and intense, focused and tautly composed, an elegant wine with a fine, seamless mouth-feel. Simply lovely.
Huon Hooke
95 Points Outstanding. Powerful bouquet, varietal and fruity, spices of place and barrel, core fruit flavours of balck currant and blue fruits, some sweet marmite and iron clay flavours. Firm and dry with an abundance of polished tannins, some baking spices and smoky wood tones layer in complexity. There’s a touch of natural pepperiness accentuated by acidity and warming alcohol. Delicious, fresh and vibrant with best drinking from late 2024 through 2033.
Cameron Douglas
97 points. Deep, dark red-purple colour with a concentrated blackberry and earthy/mineral aroma, rich and ripe and hedonistic. Fleshy and high-extract with ample supple tannins. It's full-bodied and 'out-there', a generous and almost opulent glass of red wine. Long, long carry. Utterly delicious.
Huon Hooke
From New Zealand's original Syrah vineyard comes an organically-grown mindblowing example that roars with classic cracked-pepper punchiness and gamey complexity. Boasting violet-scented vibrancy, juicy blueberry, dense dark cocoa and seasoned leather, layers dusted with spice, it's elegantly structured with statuesque, sinewy tannins and shows beautiful balance and every dark fruit element. It's gorgeous now but will reward patient cellaring.
Yvonne Lorkin
Michael Cooper Super Classic Wine of NZ