2019 TWR Single-Vineyard 5182 Syrah

TWR

New Zealand / Marlborough / TWR

We planted our first Syrah here on the home block in 2004 and have been producing it since 2007. This is our tenth release of Syrah as it was not released from the 2014, 2017 or 2018 vintages. This 2019 release is a blend of two of the different clones planted on the home vineyard. It exhibits the great fragrance, savouriness and suppleness that we love about cool-climate Syrah and might just surprise a few doubters.
All fruit for this wine was hand-picked and hand-sorted, then destemmed and berry sorted as to ensure that only pristine, perfect Syrah berries made it into the fermenters. The fruit was gently transferred to small one-tonne open fermenters and hand-plunged up to three times daily. It spent 23 days on skins in total (cold soak for 6-7 days, 6-7 day ferment and up to 9 days post-ferment maceration). Pressed off on taste then filled to oak after 24 hours. All in French oak for 12 months, various different coopers, 50% new, balance in older oak. Bottled unfined with minimal filtration.
This Syrah exhibits fragrant notes of mulberry, black pepper and violets with some complex savoury notes and hints of coffee and spice. The ripe, supple tannins combine with concentrated flavours of mulberries, omega plums and spice. The palate carries onto more savoury and complex flavours and finishes with a lingering persistence of fruit, fine tannin and well integrated oak. - Anna Flowerday

June, 2020

Cameron Douglas MS

camdouglasms.com

95 points

Complex, varietal, floral, a deep core of minerality and soft white pepper bouquet. Flavours of wild and fresh raspberry, black currant, violets and sweet meats, fine silty mineral core and layers of barrel spice and toastiness. Plenty of tannin and a back bone of acidity with youthfully firm yet polished tannin textures – all leading to a lengthy finish. A wine for the cellar – if you can wait till early 2022 – then decant for service and enjoy on its own or with food. Well made, complex and highly recommended.

March, 2021

Rebecca Gibb MW

Vinous Media

93 points.

I love cool-climate Syrah for its fragrance, lift and finesse, and this delivers. I'm always delighted to see delicate notes of peppercorns and agave (I also love good tequila, so I'm a sucker for this) alongside ripe red berries and a background note of violets. This is derived from low yields (about 30% down due to rain during flowering, followed by an arid summer), which is evident in the inky concentration and depth on the sweetly fruited midpalate. However, it remains relatively delicate with vibrant acidity, allowing it to hop, skip and dance along the palate. There's a mere pinch of tannin on the finish, holding the palate together. Full of joy and energy, this is incredibly young but provides lots of pleasure now and will continue to do so in the coming 5-8 years – and perhaps beyond.

November, 2020

Nick Stock

jamessuckling.com

93 points.

Very attractive, fresh raspberries and blackberries, pepper and spice, as well as deep, floral fragrance. Medium body. Bright, crunchy dark-cherry, blackberry and sweetly spicy flavors. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.

April, 2021

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front

93 points.

A beautiful style of Shiraz. Peppery, bunchy and refreshing but with a solid core of dark cherried fruit. Cool at heart but ripe of body. Fine tannin plays a key part as do infusions of graphite and clove. Lovely wine.

February, 2021

Bob Campbell MW

The Real Review

92 points.

From a warm, dry vintage. Fragrant cool-climate Syrah with floral, violet, white and black pepper, fresh herbs, blueberry and subtle chocolate-mocha oak flavours. A bright, fresh wine that is approachable now but should develop well with bottle age.

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About TWR

Te Whare Ra (TWR) is a small vineyard and winery located in the Marlborough sub-region of Renwick. The 11Ha vineyard was first planted in 1979 and since 2003 has been owned by winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday. Yields are kept low, the vineyard is managed with a combination of organic and biodynamic practices and all the fruit is handpicked and hand-sorted.  The wines are made with minimal intervention in a small winery which has been specifically set up for small-batch winemaking.  The aromatic wines have carved out a reputation for TWR as a member of New Zealand’s elite, while the improbably good Syrah and Pinot Noir are opening people’s eyes to Marlborough’s potential for red wines of distinction.
Biodynamic producer, certified organic
http://naturalwine.org.nz/

About

Anna Flowerday hails from McLaren Vale and kicked off her career there amid a thoroughly talented pack of young winemakers in the mid-1990s. She worked for Hardys for seven years all up, culminating in an aromatically formative stint at Leasingham in Clare Valley. It was during her time at Hardys that she met and fell in love with Jason Flowerday, a third-generation viticulturalist from Marlborough. Eventually they struck out together and in 2003 bought Te Whare Ra, home to one of the oldest vineyards in Marlborough, originally planted in 1979. Together they manage the estate with a combination of organic and biodynamic practices and have cemented this region's reputation not only as an impeccable source of aromatic whites but also as a force to be reckoned with for both Pinot Noir and Syrah.