Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2020

Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2020French oak Blueberries Silky texture Ripe tannins "This is gorgeously expressed on the nose showing Black Doris plum, mulberry, cedary oak and warm spice aromas, leading to a concentrated palate displaying excellent weight and plump mouthfeel. Velvety and flowing with a sumptuous finish" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Aug 2022 "Dense, inky, smooth textured and voluptuous syrah with cassis, dark berry, violet floral, black pepper and nicely integrated spicy oak

• French oak
• Blueberries
• Silky texture
• Ripe tannins

"This is gorgeously expressed on the nose showing Black Doris plum, mulberry, cedary oak and warm spice aromas, leading to a concentrated palate displaying excellent weight and plump mouthfeel. Velvety and flowing with a sumptuous finish" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Aug 2022

"Dense, inky, smooth-textured and voluptuous syrah with cassis, dark berry, violet/floral, black pepper and nicely integrated spicy oak flavours. A seductive red that is deliciously drinkable now, in fact it is hard to imagine it getting much better with bottle age" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jul 2022

"Bold and expressive bouquet with a core of ripe dark red fruits and baking spices, there’s no mistaking the toasty barrel scents of French oak. Youthful, primary and distinctive. Equally expressive on the palate with a texture driven beginning followed by flavours of raspberry and roasted daoris plum, some peppery baking spice combinations, plenty of acidity and toasty sweet barrel qualities. Fleshy, taut, youthful and new. Great drinking from 2024 through 2030+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Aug 2022

"This has a fragrant nose of peppercorns, thyme, dried flowers, black cherries and plums. Lovely transparency and openness. Fine, fresh and medium-bodied, with supple tannins and a long and silky finish. Very elegant syrah. Sustainable. Drink or hold" James Suckling, Sep 2022

"Medium deep crimson. Fresh blackberry, mulberry, redcurrant, black olive aromas with hints of dried herbs. Concentrated blackberry, mulberry, fine lacy/ graphite textures and persistent mineral acidity. Finishes crunchy/firm. (Hint reductive) 13.5% alc Drink now - 2030" Andrew Caillard, Master of Wine, Annual Vintage Selection, Jun 2022

2020 delivered Syrah packed full of trademark flavours and aromas. Dense purple hues lead to a perfumed nose of blueberries, violet and subtle spice. Ripe tannins encase concentrated fruit characters on a long and silky palate. Careful cellaring of up to 10+ years will add further complexity.

This seductive Syrah is a blend of parcels from our vineyards in Hawkes Bays Gimblett Gravels sub-region. The free- raining soils, warm daytime temperatures and cool nights encourage naturally devigourated vines to ripen their low yields slowly and evenly. These factors, along with well-timed vineyard management techniques ensure the resulting wines are deeply coloured and well structured, with pure aromatics and flavours classic to the variety.

2020 will be remembered as a great Hawkes Bay vintage. Early season rainfall enabled healthy vines to get established before a hot dry Spring ensued. Some cooler weather in January helped preserve freshness and natural acidity in the grapes and a settled dry Autumn allowed fruit to be harvested in great condition with ripe flavours.