Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Syrah A wonderfully decadent and expressive Syrah from Hawke's Bay's renowned Gimblett Gravels, bursting with ripe boysenberry, juicy blueberry and dark plum, alongside fragrant violets, liquorice and a lovely twist of peppery spice. The palate is concentrated and beautifully layered, with dark berry fruit, baked raspberry, smoky oak and subtle savoury notes complemented by a distinctive stony mineral character. Firm yet refined tannins and fresh acidity provide excellent structure, leading to a long, complex finish. Matured for 21 months in French oak, this is a powerful, beautifully balanced Syrah with impressive depth and excellent cellaring potential. A fantastic match for braised beef cheeks, slow-cooked lamb, venison or smoky barbecue ribs.
What the winery says:
Handpicked from the celebrated Gimblett Gravels district, this Syrah benefited from the exceptional 2020 growing season, with consistently warm days and cooler nights allowing the grapes to achieve excellent ripeness. Harvested on 15 April 2020, the fruit was destemmed with whole berries retained, followed by a three-day cold soak and fermentation in open-top stainless steel tanks using spontaneous fermentation and selected Syrah yeasts. After nine days of extended skin contact, the wine was pressed and matured for 21 months in French oak hogsheads, including 33% new oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in February 2022, it offers concentrated dark fruit, subtle spice, liquorice and a beautifully integrated, refined finish.
What the experts say:
Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, 94/100 (2020 Vintage)
"Ripe, rich wine from a successful vintage that promises long-living reds."
Cameron Douglas MS, 94/100 (2020 Vintage)
“Varietal, intense, ripe, youthful and very inviting bouquet of dark plums and baked raspberry flesh, scents of clove and wood smoke, baked meats, red licorice and flat mushrooms frame the bouquet with precision and style. A dry wine touches the palate with contrasting red and blue fruit flavours from plums to raspberry and moments of jam and baking spices. Firm tannins and acidity frame the palate well with core flavours from the bouquet and a stony mineral quality. Complex and youthful, lengthy and well made. A food wine with many matching attributes. Best drinking from 2025 through 2035+"
