Mission Estate Winery, Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand) Syrah 2010

 Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island is not as well known as a wine producing area as Marlborough on the South Island, and the style of Hawke’s Bay wines is more subtle and subdued.  Example, this Syrah with Old World Syrah characters of meaty, smoky and savory juxtaposed with New World Syrah characters of ripe blackberry, plum fruit with ripe tannins.   It shows a lovely balance between ripe fruit and tangy acidity.