Smith&Sheth Cru Heretaunga Syrah 2021

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Smith&Sheth
Label Name:
 
Cru Heretaunga Syrah
Vintage:
 
2021
Country:
 
New Zealand
Region:
 
Hawke's Bay (Heretaunga; Gimblett Gravels & Mangatahi)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13.5%
Grape(s):
 
Syrah
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Major reviews/ratings — Wine Enthusiast 95 (issue date 10/1/2024); Cameron Douglas MS 95; Bob Campbell MW 96; Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin) 94; James Suckling 93; Wine Orbit (Sam Kim) 95

Tasting Note
Deep blackberry and black-plum fruit with violet, black-olive, pepper and graphite; cedar and vanilla from oak. Satiny, savory tannins, vivid acidity and a long, savory finish.

Food Pairing
Western: grilled steak, roast lamb, braised short ribs, venison, aged cheddar. Asian: Korean BBQ, char siu (Cantonese roast pork), Sichuan beef stir‑fry, miso-glazed aubergine, teriyaki lamb skewers.

Production Method
Hand‑harvested Syrah from Heretaunga sites; small-batch fermentations and oak maturation in French oak barrels/puncheons (~10–14 months). Bottled under screwcap; minimal intervention; vegan-friendly.

Vineyard Info
Smith & Sheth are contemporary négociants founded by Steve Smith MW and Brian Sheth, based in Havelock North. The CRU Heretaunga Syrah sources fruit from Gimblett Gravels, Mangatahi and Omahu vineyards.