Te Whare Ra SV Syrah 2024
Case Buys Only | 6 x 750ml | $4.99 Delivery
Te Whare Ra SV Syrah is a genuine rarity for Marlborough, grown on a warmer, clay-rich pocket of Te Whare Ra's home block that few other producers in the region even attempt with this variety. It's fragrant with mulberry, black pepper and violets, backed by savoury notes, coffee and spice. The palate is ripe but restrained, carrying concentrated mulberry and dark plum through to a long, savoury finish with fine tannin and well-integrated oak. Only their twelfth release since first planting Syrah here in 2004, it's cool-climate Syrah with real fragrance and structure rather than sheer weight.
What the winery says:
Syrah is a labour of love for Te Whare Ra - very few Marlborough producers grow it, but their warmer site and clay-influenced soils suit the variety well. First planted on the home block in 2004, the 2024 is only their twelfth release, made from a blend of two clones (470 and 174), with production of 150 cases. The winery describes it as showing great fragrance, savouriness and suppleness, the hallmarks of cool-climate Syrah.
What the experts say:
Jane Skilton MW, The Real Review, 95 Points (2024 Vintage)
"Dark opaque purple. There's plenty of intensity on the nose and whilst there is some gentle, sweetly spiced new oak, this doesn't dominate and instead the vivid blueberry, black cherry and violet florals shine. This is very youthful so (as expected) tannins are present but they are chalky and fine. There's freshness and drive despite its concentration and depth. A perfectly judged, polished wine."
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 97 Points (2024 Vintage)
"The wine showcases impressive fruit purity combined with sensual complexity. On the nose, it reveals enticing aromas of dark plum, violet, thyme, game, cracked pepper, and cedary oak. The palate is powerfully concentrated, offering a balance of density and refinement, wonderfully complemented by a plush texture and well-integrated tannins. It is superbly structured and seamless, finishing in a way that is both engaging and compelling. This has become one of New Zealand's finest Syrah labels."
