Wines Unspecified Craggy Range - Gimblett Gravels Syrah - 2020

Craggy Range's Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020 stands as an impressive example of New Zealand’s evolving prowess with this Rhône varietal. Drawn from the storied Gimblett Gravels subregion in Hawke’s Bay, this wine is typically crafted from Syrah grapes, though the precise blend can vary from year to year. Gimblett Gravels is lauded for its unique terroir: a bed of greywacke stones and gravelly soils that foster excellent drainage and heat retention, promoting optimal ripening and complexity. The 2020 vintage benefited from moderate warmth and consistent sunshine, encouraging concentrated fruit and balanced structure. In the cellar, Craggy Range is known for its deft mix of traditional techniques and modern precision, usually favouring gentle extraction to preserve fresh aromatics and employing French oak to impart subtle spice and texture.

Hawke’s Bay, on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, claims a rich viticultural tradition and is one of the country’s oldest and most diverse wine regions. Its maritime climate brings warmth tempered by cool nights and ocean breezes, lending itself especially well to red varietals like Syrah. The stony floodplains of Gimblett Gravels are particularly prized, having helped establish Hawke’s Bay’s reputation for producing reds of refinement, poise, and distinct minerality.

Given this Syrah’s likely spectrum of ripe black fruit, violet, peppery spice, and supple tannin, it would pair beautifully with roast lamb—perhaps prepared with rosemary, garlic and local root vegetables—or a slow-cooked beef stew. The wine’s freshness and pepper notes also complement grilled venison, aubergine dishes or hard regional cheeses like aged cheddar.

For the best tasting experience, serve this Syrah at around 16-18°C. Decanting for an hour will allow the bouquet to open fully and the tannins to soften, displaying the graceful depth and aromatic lift characteristic of superior Hawke’s Bay reds. This bottle promises years of elegant evolution if cellared with care.