Bullnose Syrah, Hawke’s Bay — 2020
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Introduction
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First planted in 1990, the Bullnose Vineyard’s old red iron soils produce Te Mata Estate’s finest Syrah. The wine is named after an early Michael Morris car, which was nicknamed Bullnose due to its distinctive radiator. The bull emblem that appears on the label is drawn from the car’s radiator crest.
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Vineyard Profile
- Vineyards: Separate parcels of fully ripened syrah grapes were hand-harvested from Te Mata Estate’s Bullnose, Hotspur and Isosceles Vineyards between March 26th - 30th, 2020.
- Appellation: Hawke's Bay
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Vinification
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The individual lots were each destemmed and given a traditional warm-plunged fermentation. The resulting wines underwent extended maceration on skins before pressing and then a secondary malolactic fermentation. The separate wines were then run to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barriques for 15 months’ maturation. During this time, they were regularly topped and racked, before blending and then bottling in December 2021.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- TA: 5.8 g/L
- p H: 3.60
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Tasting Notes
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A luminous deep magenta in color. Floral with fresh raspberry, black-cherry syrup, spiced plums and oriental peonies, all bursting from the glass. There’s cinnamon, nutmeg and earth, with mineral, ripe boysenberry and blackberry fruit on the palate adding presence and sustained, subtle power. Fine-grained tannins carry the palate on and on. Luxurious. Resplendent. Bullnose Syrah’ 20 is our most beautiful Bullnose.
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Images
Reviews
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Bullnose Syrah, Hawke’s Bay — 2020 – Wine Advocate – 96 Points
"The 2020 Bullnose Syrah offers deli meat on the nose, exotic spice, graphite, black tea leaves and succulent red fruits. There is warmth (generosity, plushness, etc.) in this wine, but the acidity is cooling and detailed. Slinky, supple and balanced, shaped by ductile, tissue-paper tannins, chalky and shapely, this is lip-smacking. 13.5% and perfectly ripe. So good."