Sourced entirely from the Beacon Hill vineyard in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley, it sports a new style of label for the brand, designed in house by Arabella Waghorn and Finn Scott-Kelly. The label includes a reference to Astrolabe’s urban Small Town Winery in Blenheim (which opened in March 2024, the same as this vintage).
A bright, translucent ruby-crimson red colour in the glass. The perfume leads with boysenberry, plum, cherry, red liquorice, serrano ham, rosehip, woody ‘garrigue’ herbs and violet florals. A Pinot-like vibe into the palate, which is light-footed and linear. A spicy and soft texture is matched to fine tannin, and juicy acidity, giving plenty of energy. Layers of complexity – pink peppercorn, rooibos tea and clay soil, all sliding in. Quite a different expression from the usual New Zealand Syrah – which, to be fair, tends to come from the North Island. Well-made, and with some cellaring potential. 94pts
