French for soil, "Le Sol" comes exclusively from heritge syrah clones in the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard. The stony soils there keep growth and cropping of the old clone Syrah vines in check and provide warmth in the autumn and winter. This heritage clone was brough to New Zealand in the 1840s. Grapes were hand harvested, partially destemmed (80%), and fermented in open-top French oak cuves and stainless steel tanks.

95 Points
jamessuckling.com
2020 vintage
95 Points
VinousMedia.com
2020 vintage
Harvest Note
While the season was wet through the Spring, it was dry and warm through ripening period, yielding an iconic vintage.
Tasting Note
Deep, dark garnet with a burgundy hue. Aromas of ripe boysenberry and blueberry are intertwined with the savoury complexity of black pepper and slate. The palate is seamless and voluptuous with mouth-filling fruit. Fine, graphite tannins come racing through and give the wine unique persistence.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 100% Syrah
APPELLATION: Gimblett Gravels
PH: 3.62
ACIDITY: 6.1
ABV: 13.5%
AGING: Aged 17 months in French oak barriques, 38% new
Unique Selling Points
  • A heritage clone of Syrah brought to New Zealand in the 1840s
  • Gimblett Gravels is known as New Zealand's best terroir for Bordeaux blends and Syrah
  • The stony vineyard absorbs the day's heat and radiates it at night, helping ripeness.

About the Grape

Syrah
Syrah has seductively dense, rich, chewy black berry aromas and flavors, with notes of tar, wood smoke, bacon, leather, chocolate, and sometimes violets. The tannins are firm yet elegant.
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