Coopers Creek Syrah Select V 08

2008 Coopers Creek Syrah Chalk Ridge Select Vineyards is a great example of the grape, and affordable too. Make sure you decant it splashily an hour or two before use, when it will reveal its floral and black pepper bouquet on delightful cassis and bottled black doris varietal fruit, so infinitely more complex and food-friendly than over-oaked Shiraz. Cellar 5–10 years.  GK May 10

2009 ANZWA Champion Syrah was the Coopers Creek ‘Select Vineyard – Chalk Ridge’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2008 (18.5+/20), at 13.5% alc., made with 3.73% co-fermented Viognier, all of the fruit from south of Havelock North, the wine spent 14 months in 50% new French oak. Deep purple red in colour, the nose was packed with boysenberry and other dark berry fruits with a little jam, pepper and spices showing. Medium to full-bodied, this had lovely ripe dark fruits and liquorice flavours, a touch af floral lift, along with moderate extraction and fresh acidity. The wine is quite harmonious and is complete.   RC Dec 09

Related Reading...

Julicher Pinot Noir 2008 - Top Wine At The 2009 Air N.Z.Wine Awards

The trophy awards for the 2009 Air N.Z. Wine Awards were announced last night at a black-tie dinner in Christchurch. It is gratifying to see many of ... more

Air N.Z. Wine Awards 2009 Trophy Masterclass

Regional Wines conducts a tasting of the top wines from the Air N.Z. Wine Awards every year. It is interesting to see the attendees reactions to the w... more

Worth Cellaring

by Geoff Kelly ...... more

Cuisine Magazine's Syrah & Shiraz Tasting Stars

The latest issue of Cuisine magazine, Issue 141, July 2010 reports on the tastings of N.Z. Syrah and Australian Shiraz. In some ways, the results are ... more