The fruit for the 2019 Totto Syrah came from various sites on Waiheke Island which are close planted, dry farmed, with an average vine age of 40 years on steeply sloping sites which results in extremely low yields but as a result high quality fruit. All sites are handpicked with some subject to 15% whole bunch while others are 100%. After natural fermentation the wine is aged for 20 months in French Puncheons 60% new. Under screwcap.
A deep and impenetrable purple-ruby colour. More bacon fat, savoury, umami than primary fruit on the nose. Firm, grippy tannins are densely packed, and combined with the tightly bound fruit, probably needed a significant amount of decanting or significantly more years prior to opening. Certainly not your typical New Zealand, or even Waiheke, Syrah – clearly built for significant ageing… revisit in 5 years minimum to see where this is going. Definitely not a bad wine just still very tight and bound up despite already being 7 years old. Definitely improved and opened up the next day so confirms more time would be beneficial, or significant time in decanter prior. 90pts
