Commercial Description

We are lucky at Čuvar to have arguably one of the best red wine vineyards on the Gimblett Gravels, which meant that the Syrah weathered the early cyclone and continued to ripen to produce fruit with depth of flavour and ripe tannins – the perfect palette to create this wine.

Firm, ripe tannins create a backbone enveloped in juicy sun kissed fruit that lengthens on the palate to leave you wanting more.

This classic wine of the estate and of the appellation is an archetypal expression of the finesse and elegance of the wines of Côte-Rôtie amde with Syrah and a splash of Viognier. 

Dark ruby red in colour. Spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. Round soft tannins. Aromas of raspberry, blackberry and vanilla. Balance between scarcely perceptible acidity and tannins which add ageing potential and softened by long ageing in oak.

WINEMAKING NOTES
The fruit for this wine is grown on the stony sandy soil of our lower terrace. It was harvested on 4 April 2019. The fruit was cold soaked for around 6 days prior to fermentation. The wine was then aged in French oak barrels for 10 months, 33 % new.

ANALAYSIS
pH 3.68
TA 4.37 g/l
Alcohol 13.0%

TASTING NOTES
Dark red, purple hues. Amazing dark berry fruit in the raspberry black currant spectrum.  The spice notes of Syrah are to the fore in this wine with a white pepper and Chinese five spice.  As is our style, the fruit was aged in oak to accentuate the savoury notes and introduce aromas of vanilla and toast.
The palate is especially vibrant with a line of acidity knitting the fleshiness and structural components together.  Excellent concentration and vibrancy with a long finish.

AWARDS
5 Stars Wine Orbit
93 Points Cameron Douglas

Wine growers in the northern Rhone since 1481, the Chave family represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family’s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900’s when phylloxera hit the region.

Jean-Louis Chave Selections, his negociant line which sources grapes from various areas in the northern Rhone, represents a more accessible way for the consumer to experience the wines of the Chave family.

Distilled in 2009, this 12-year-old Glendullan has been aged first in Bourbon casks and then in Côte-Rôtie casks from the Rhone Valley in France. Expect some clean vanilla and green apples from the Bourbon, matched with red fruit notes from the red wine cask.

Clevedon Vineyard on Munros Road is nestled in the hills of Clevedon, southwest of Auckland.

This family owned estate and vineyard sprawls some 50 acres of stunning bush-lined valley and is centred around an authentic Italian Villa - Il Monticello ('The Hill'). 

The northerly aspect captures all day sunshine giving this boutique vineyard a higher than regional average climate.  Coupled with clay based soil it is as unique as it is remarkable.

Planted over 2 decades ago, this single-vineyard estate produces Pinot Noir, Syrah, Rosé and the northern Italian varietal Arneis.

The Syrah is full bodied, velvet smooth and packed with wild bramble fruits, savoury hints and pepper spice.

Wine growers in the northern Rhone since 1481, the Chave family represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family’s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900’s when phylloxera hit the region.

'Vinified from grapes that were harvested as late as the 26th of September, the 2021 L'Hermitage Blanc was cropped at 38 hL/ha, above the levels of 2022. It dazzles with vivid spring blossom, honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Medium-bodied and immaculately balanced by bright acidity, this is an athletic L'Hermitage Blanc with marked freshness and energy. A saline aftertaste wraps up the sapid finish. Outstanding.' 96 pts Nicolas Greinacher - Vinous

Wine growers in the northern Rhone since 1481, the Chave family represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family’s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900’s when phylloxera hit the region.

'The refined 2021 L'Hermitage was cropped at 37 hL/ha and bottled in early September 2023. It is laced with finely delineated orange rind, raspberry, red cherry, red plum, dried herbs, pencil shavings, black cherry, crushed violet and cedar. Showing excellent tension on the medium-bodied palate, the 2021 brings it home with clarity and freshness. That being said, it won’t be as long lived as either the 2020 or 2022.' 94 pts Nicolas Greinacher - Vinous

Experience the bold character of our first Syrah release, crafted from fruit grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle of Hawke's Bay. This wine is rich with enticing warm spices, cocoa powder, and baked red fruits. The palate is velvety, featuring raspberry and plum skin, with a spice finish that makes it perfect for cosy winter nights.

Hand-harvested and wild fermented, this Syrah includes 30% whole cluster fermentation and aged for 10 months in French oak barriques. The careful winemaking process ensures a balanced and complex profile.

Ideal for sipping by a fire on a chilly evening, this Syrah pairs wonderfully with hearty dishes like venison, wild game, or rich stews.

Clape Cornas Renaissance is crafted from the Clape estate's younger vines, offering a more approachable and vibrant expression of the appellation. These vines are, nonetheless, over 30 year old, primarily in the Les Sabarotte and Geynale lieux-dits providing heady full bodied Syrah with aromas and flavours of boysenberry, star anise and cola - silky polished tannins and keen acidity. Traditional winemaking approaches, including whole-cluster fermentation, and maturation in old oak foudres enhances the wine's aromatic intensity and structure of the wine offering a fresh, yet profound, interpretation of the esteemed Cornas terroir.

A great Syrah from the northern Rhone appellation of Cornas, famous for its staunch full bodied dry flavoured reds and long ageability of wines made from here. This powerful red from Ferraton Pere & Fils has dark black fruit flavours, strong spicy aromas and a hint of black pepper, tar and earthiness all adding great complexity to an outstanding and youthful wine. 

Drinks well now, if decanted, and begs to be cellared for up to and potentially beyond 10 years. 

Commercial description

This deep purple Syrah blossoms with blue fruits and violets, and is directed as if by gravitational force to a subtle undertone of exotic cooking spices. Vibrant and sharply focused, displaying smoke-accentuated nuance on the palate with a plush, velvety texture. Eighteen months in carefully selected French oak barriques with regular bâtonage rounded the tannins, adding to the framework a fine grip and delicate finishing touch. Cellaring Potential: 10 years