Church Rd Grand Res HB Syrah

The fruit is blended from several warm, stony sites. Recent blends have drawn on the Wai-iti, Gimblett and Redstone vineyards, where the soils are free draining gravels and red metal. Wai-iti is the more exposed of the three and ripens later, which tends to give more elegant wines.

In the glass it shows dark plum and red and black berries over a floral Hawke's Bay perfume, with warm spice. Subtle oak adds vanilla, roasted cacao and a hint of smoke. The palate is medium to full bodied, with silky tannins, black pepper and a long finish.

Roast lamb rubbed with cumin, a pepper-crusted steak or venison with juniper all suit it. It is a Syrah with enough structure to reward a few years in the cellar.