Ellen Clifford

9.0

Very very well done once again on the Syrah, New Zealand. This is a bowl of berries and someone cracked pepper on them put them in the sun. You’re eating them on a chilly sunny day. You’re hungry. The wine is doing a good job filling that void. — 6 years ago

bec cully

9.0

Smooth and woody — 7 years ago

Daniel Bello

9.0

Pepprigt & stenigt. Gott! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nose of ripe; blackberries, blueberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, white & black pepper, soft, chalky minerals with light & dark fresh florals. On the palate, lean; blueberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black licorice, soft baking spices; clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdery crushed rocks, leather, dry & fresh dark florals with understated white & black pepper. Photos of parts of the soil structure in the Gimblett Gravels and vines around their Cellar Door. — 8 years ago

Harri Sharman

9.5

Dark chocolate, deep earthy leatheriness, dark dried red currant, balsamic strawberries... 😍 — 9 years ago

Keith Crump

9.0

Grrat drinking Spaniard style with kiwi twist — 10 years ago

Rob Sonogan

8.9

Good wine with plenty of fruit. Was expecting a bit more. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Dense and concentrated - this wine needs years and I erred in not decanting it not giving much on the nose initially. With time and vigorous swirling aromas of Violets Liquorice Lavender Peppercorns and uncooked Bacon always with the minerality of the vineyard - the Gimblett Gravels. On the palate powerful latent flavours with so much more to give. Generally recognised as probably the best Syrah in New Zealand and if not certainly in the conversation with Craggy Range. Listed in the 1001 Wines. Very difficult to source in Australia and I ended up visiting them in January 2017 in Hawkes Bay and getting on the mailing list. 94 points now but in 3 to 5 years 97 or 98. World class Syrah without doubt. — 7 years ago

Max Hollander-Eberly

9.1

Always good to have a taste of home, and very little does that better than Gimblett Gravels Syrah. Great dark fruit, showing excellent leathery tones. — 8 years ago

Magda Cortez

9.1

Strong red. Matured well. — 8 years ago

Liz Hale

9.5

Violets on the nose, big badass Malbec. Gimblett Gravels, nuff said. — 9 years ago

Neil McGregor

9.2

When I opened this the first thing I got was Marmite! But once it settled I got good fruit and vanilla from oak. I loved this - it's different and it's very good. — 9 years ago

John Wight

Sommelier/Wine Director Luce Restaurant

9.6

Another beautiful, black pepper spice. Blackberry, stunning depth and length — 10 years ago

Tom Gable

9.0

Dark purple; cocoa, prune, ripe grape nose (13.5 alc); big body chewy; a little one dimensional; hard finish; needs time. — 10 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

Amazingly aromatic. Violet flowers, dark earth. Complex, powerful and refined. — 7 years ago

Michael Daubs

9.4

Fantastic, full bodied wine (and excellent with a bit of dark chocolate, which really brings out the plum). — 7 years ago

Aki Ttr

9.1

Heavy but creamy batter taste. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

On the nose, ripe; blackberries, cherries, dark cherries, soft-light baking spices, dark earth and dark fresh florals. On the palate, ripe; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, medium powdery tannins, black licorice, black rich earth with crushed rocks, leather, fresh violets & dark fresh flowers. Finishes with fresh, ripe fruits, powdery and nice round mellow acidity. Photos of their large oak fermenters and grounds. — 8 years ago

Douglas Renall

8.9

Buttery and oaky with stone fruit characters #nzwine #hawkesbay — 9 years ago

Trevor Loomis

9.2

I have drunk cases of this wine over the last 8 years, I'm personal friends with Bob, Dinah, John and Brigid. This wine has surprised me for years. Back in 2008 we thought the wine was falling over so we tried to sell it out through the cellar door, but it just keeps going. I had another bottle with my wife the other night and it didn't disappoint. Beautiful savory notes on the nose and the palate. Lashings of tobacco, dried herbs and iodine on the nose with a touch of molasses. On the palate flavours of stewed plums, herbs, iodine and slightly gamey. Lovely integrated oak with silky fine grain tannins on the finish. This wine just keeps going. The only fault would be the corks are dried out and a bitch to get out in one piece. Gordon Russell is an icon and one of New Zealand's greatest winemakers. — 9 years ago