Levlett Estate Hawke's Bay Syrah 2020

Spicy + concentrated flavor

This Syrah is good. The moment you pour it into the glass, you get a slightly sweet berry aroma. And then there's the spicy aroma of pepper and cardamom.

When you drink it, the flavor of blackberry jam spreads across your tongue, and the finish leaves a strong hint of spice.

This is truly a model New Zealand Syrah.

The producer is Levlett Estate, based in Hawke's Bay on the North Island, New Zealand's second largest wine-producing region.

The grapes used are from Tantallon Vineyard, which is particularly warm and has little rain even in Hawke's Bay, so the wine conveys a rich flavor that comes from fully ripe grapes.

It is aged in oak barrels for 12 months, which adds a fragrant vanilla-like nuance to the flavor, resulting in a complex taste.

The classic gold and white label is eye-catching. The three hares, the company's trademark, represent the three essential pillars of the winery: the vineyard, winemaking at the winery, and sales and distribution.

The perfect food to go with it is beef steak seasoned with pepper. Pasta with ragu sauce is also good. It also goes well with charcoal-grilled chicken, which combines the flavors of the two.

This red wine is perfect for autumn, when appetites are at their peak.

Now, this Syrah variety. It is the second most popular variety of red wine grape after Bordeaux, and is characterized by its "spicy" taste.

A short name + distinctive features = easy to remember. I think this formula is what makes it so popular.

However, at Bokumo stores, we are sometimes asked, "Do you have Shiraz?"

Yes, it's short and easy to remember, but there's a Syrah/Shiraz problem.

Syrah is spelled Syrah. It is native to southern France, and is not too heavy in body or high in alcohol. It has a hint of red berries and fine tannins. That's the image I have.

Shiraz, on the other hand, is the name given to the version of Syrah from the south of France that was planted in Australia. It has a slightly different character from the original, and has a very mellow flavor. It is black in color, full-bodied, and slightly higher in alcohol.

So, I think it's fair to think of Shiraz as a much richer version of Syrah.

I have rarely seen the word Shiraz written on the label in New Zealand. I think this is because many wineries there model their wines after the elegant French style, rather than the thick style of their neighbour Australia.

In fact, I think the reality is that it is not possible to produce such rich wine in New Zealand, where it is not as hot as Australia.

For New Zealand, Australia is a neighboring country and an eternal rival. Maybe they have a little pride and don't want to imitate their rival?

About the Winery's "Wine Portfolio"

Wine Portfolio is a new winery established by the owner of Morton Estate, a winery highly regarded not only in New Zealand but around the world, after selling the name to a major manufacturer.

The company owns numerous brands, including Leverett Estate, IQ, Mills Reef and Southern Cross, and produces wines to meet a variety of needs from vineyards across New Zealand, including Hawke's Bay and Marlborough.

About Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is located in the eastern part of the North Island and is characterized by abundant sunshine and a relatively warm climate, and boasts the second largest grape-growing area in Australia.

Hawke's Bay specializes in producing red wines, particularly those made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah, while fruity Chardonnay is a popular white wine.

The Gimlet Gravels, an area created when an earthquake pushed up what was originally a riverbed, is one of Hawke's Bay's important sub-regions.

Leveret Estate Hawke's Bay Syrah 2020

item	Content
Winery Name	Wine Portfolio
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Hawke's Bay
kinds	red
Grape variety	Syrah
Vintage	2020
Alcohol content	12.5%
capacity	750ml
remarks	Screw Cap