Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Artisanal Syrah 2019

Aromas of fresh red raspberries, wood spices, black currant, fresh lightly smoked meats, some peppercorn and baking spices and plum – in other words – complex. Fresh, youthful, fruity and precise on the palate with flavours that reflect the bouquet. Firm tannins and a backbone of acidity. Moderate new oak impact adds to the texture and weight. Lengthy, youthful, tense and dry. A well made wine that requires some cellar time [to] showcase its complexity. Decant for service before 2023 with best drinking from 2023 through 2028+. Excellent. Score – 94. (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com, May 18, 2021)