Onetangi Syrah Waiheke Island, 2018

There is only a total of 50 hectares of Syrah planted on Waiheke, but the reputation for producing outstanding wines is growing and will surely encourage more. The Jomara Vineyard in Onetangi (a Maori name meaning weeping sands) is planted on steeply terraced clay slopes facing north-west. Grapes receive just the right amount of sunshine and warmth to fully ripen. The nearby ocean provides cool breezes in the afternoon so that the grapes keep natural acidity, freshness and elegance. Still an infant, this wine is delicious to drink now but requires patience to reach its zenith. Aromas are restrained with notes of lavender and dark fruits. The palate is tight, revealing very little currently but firm dark fruits with great structure and depth. Syrah was fermented in open-top fermenters with hand plunging twice daily. Malolactic fermentation and aging were done in new and old oak barrels for eight months.