Syrah has gone from zero to hero in New Zealand over the past 15 years and is now the third most planted red grape in this country, famously in Hawke’s Bay. These three wines come from the Bay, home to most of the Syrah grapes grown in this country and are paving a solid path forward for this fabulous red, says wine writer Joelle Thomson.
Craggy Range Syrah, $38
This 2020 red is one of the best New Zealand wines on the market. Winemaker Julian Grounds has added another level of greatness to Craggy Range’s Syrahs. The 2020 wines are also exceptional thanks to a warm, dry and long summer with very little rain, which led to super high-quality grapes that year. The combo of this great vintage and Grounds’ winemaking means this is a wine to keep for the long haul – or enjoy it with wild venison, if possible.
Graze with: Cold meets with crostini.
Dine with: Game food such as venison with a seasonal salad.
Rating: 18.5/20
The 2020 Artisanal range adds a delicious new string to the Esk Valley wine collection. This exceptional Syrah is a beautifully flavoursome expression of dark fruit flavours, floral aromas and spicy notes of cloves, pepper and cedar. It’s a great wine from a warm, dry 2020 year, which tastes beautifully complex now and when aged for up to five years.
Graze with: Blue cheese, olives and parmesan crackers.
Dine with: Smoked mushroom and caramelised onion tart.
Rating: 18.5/20
Warm, dry and delicious - and that’s just the weather in Hawke’s Bay this century. These are the perfect conditions for many of the best Syrahs ever made in this wine region. This incredibly modestly priced, nicely spiced 2020m red offers brilliant value for money.
Graze with: A duck paté mousse with crackers
Dine with: mushroom soup with sourdough
Rating: 17.5/20
At home with food stylist Fiona Hugues.