DRY RIVER Lovat Vineyard Syrah, Martinborough
Dry River, founded in 1979, was a pioneer of the Martinborough region and today remains among New Zealand’s leading wine producers. Dry River was also a pioneer of Shiraz/Syrah in New Zealand, beginning in 1996, and has seen the variety gain prominence. The Lovat Vineyard Syrah is a cool-climate style with a perfume of violets, black pepper and cinnamon spice. It is medium-bodied, with a mineral streak, but has good concentration, being plush and intense at the same time. The ‘Amaranth’ designation indicates an expectation that the wine will continue to develop interest as it ages.
Dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour. The nose is very full and voluminous with aromas of ripe black and red berry fruit at the core, with black pepper, spice notes and a beautiful array of floral aromatics that blossoms in the glass. On palate very concentrated with succulently sweet and ripe black fruits, lifted by a floral bloom. This has an exoticism, with spicy nuances integrated with the fruit. The fruit opulence is checked by considerable tannin extraction, all fine-grained and flowery in texture. The balance is impeccable and varietal precision is present. The wine is indeed a textural one rather than a fruit bomb. A superb expression of Syrah that will live a decade plus.
19.5-/20 points, RaymondChanWineReviews.co.nz
