Based on the historically significant Heritage clone of Syrah, our first tentative plantings have resulted in incredibly distinctive wines that have caught attention. It seems that our Gimblett Gravels vineyard and this northern Rhone variety are a serendipitous match exemplified by pungently floral and vividly flavoured wines. Unsurprisingly, Syrah is now a significant part of our full bodied red wine offering.
CRAGGY RANGE

Hawke's Bay syrah is emerging as one of the New Zealand's greatest wines. This deeply coloured, peppery wine has plums, dark cherries, smoked meats and floral hints on the nose. There's lovely palate concentration, but it's fresh and lively, not heavy, with classy oak woven through it. Musky-rich, deep flavours rest on long, drying tannins. Try it with Cantonese beef fillet. RALPH KYAT-POWELL, The Age Epicure

The Rhone’s syrah is proving itself in a spicy, cool-climate contrast to Australian shiraz. The 2009 Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Syrah is an excellent example of the Crozes-Hermitage-like blackberry-fruit elegance that the Gimblett Gravels bring.  ANTHONY ROSE, The Independent