Hawke's Bay Syrah on a roll... 2015 Trademark Syrah  

Rod McDonald is a class act. Last year he won the Champion Red Trophy at the world’s biggest wine competition - the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London. The Hawke’s Bay winemaker won this outstanding accolade for one of his most humbly priced wines, the 2015 Quarter Acre Syrah, which costs about $30, sometimes even less. That’s no mean feat for a relatively humbly priced wine from a relatively small country made from a grape that is relatively new here. And, now, Rod has released this wine's big brother – the brand new 2015 Trademark Syrah. It’s one of the two flagship wines of Rod McDonald. The other is the Rod McDonald Trademark Chardonnay. Both are made in smaller quantities from a range of vineyards in the Bay that Rod and his winemaking team manage. They are currently in conversion to full organic certification, which Rod anticipates gaining in the next three years, hopefully sooner. It’s an exacting process.

The new 2015 Trademark Syrah is made from the third consecutive vintage where Hawke’s Bay had a great summer. Dry, warm, dialled up ripeness in the grapes, dialled down disease pressure in the vineyard. Who could ask for more?

Tasting note… 2015 Trademark Syrah $72.99

This brand new top notch Hawke’s Bay red is a delicious take on the Syrah theme. It's made from four vineyards in the Bay; Maraekakaho, Bridge Pa, Tuki Tuki River Valley and Te Awanga. McDonald is using the best grapes he can grow from vineyards that he and his team manage and the range of vineyards is all about maximising quality - fruit ripeness, balance of flavour, tannins, fresh acidity and body - rather than about hedging bets. 

This Syrah is the best; dark purple, dry, full bodied, very good balance and a great long life ahead of it. If you can resist the urge to enjoy it right now. A stunner.

Rod McDonald’s new 2015 Trademark Syrah  is available from Regional Wines - click here to purchase