Craggy Range Le Sol 2019

Craggy Range was founded by Terry Peabody and his family in Hawke's Bay, on New Zealand's North Island, after a long search for the right site and with technical help from the winemaker Steve Smith. Le Sol is a single-vineyard Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels district, where deep alluvial soils of stone and sand drain freely and store the day's heat. That warmth ripens the Syrah while the maritime climate keeps the nights cool, holding the acidity and the peppery, savoury aromatics that mark cooler-climate Syrah closer to the northern Rhône than to a warm-climate Shiraz. Ageing runs to 11 months in French oak barrels, the slow oxygen exchange settling the tannins and folding a light smoky, spiced frame into the fruit. The wine is deep and dark. The nose shows ripe plum and dark berry over black pepper, smoke, a savoury olive note and oak. The palate is full and structured, with firm tannin, concentrated fruit, liquorice and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant ahead. It suits roast and grilled beef, lamb and game.