The superb Mission ‘Jewelstone’ Syrah 2007 (19.5-/20), at 14.5% from fruit from the Mere Road block in the Gimblett Gravels, aged 13 months in quality French barriques. Very dark coloured, this was superbly structured with layers of ripe dark berry, cassis, black pepper and complex floral notes. Beautifully structured with fine-grained, but substantial tannins, this possessed true line and length. Arguably the best Syrah from Mission to date.  RC/SD July 09

Another 2007 vintage wine to appeal is Mission Estate ‘Jewelstone’Syrah. This looks to be in the top stream of wines under this label, a wine somewhat over-looked despite good ones regularly since 1998. This may be the best so far. It is so ripe and rich it doesn’t show a marked floral component yet, but give it another 6 months. Te Mata’s ‘Bullnose’ ’07 has come on tremendously in that time, and this one should too. The roundness and richness of berry is terrific. Mission long ago gave up American oak in this wine. Unfortunately ‘Jewelstone’ wines are no longer quite the bargain they once were, but there is some pretty ambitious pricing out there in the Syrah market, despite the economic circumstances. And the French models are more. When proprietors feel they have a particularly good wine, they want to be seen as up there with our top wines, I guess. As a wine it is totally in the ‘Syrahs to challenge Hermitage’ category, though softer. Well worth trying. GK May 09