Craggy Range, Gimlett Gravels, Hawkes Bay (New Zealand) Syrah 2019

 Gimlett Gravels is a wine region on the North Island of New Zealand.  It is over 1976 acres of gravel soils from ancient river beds of the Ngaruroro River that were uncovered by a major flood in the 1860s.  Growers and producers in this area created the Gimlett Gravels Winegrowers Association to promote and protect this special area.  The wine is made from a single Syrah clone that was brought to the country in the 1840s.  Its color is black ruby with a touch of purple in the rim.  Aromas of black fruits of Boysenberries, blackberries, plums spiced with black pepper corns.  It is intense and concentrated, with black fruits on the palate, yet very smooth and elegant finishing with solid, fine-grained tannins.  It is drinking well now and has the structure and intensity to develop and age well.