2019 Te Mata Bullnose Syrah

98 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

The wine exhibits a great degree of elegance as well as opulence and gutsy substance. The sweetly fragrant bouquet shows Black Doris plum, violet, cedar and game characters with a touch of pepper spice. It’s weighty and sumptuous on the palate displaying awesome fruit purity and silky mouthfeel, wonderfully framed by loads of polished tannins. A stunning rendition of the variety. www.temata.co.nz.

96 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Deep, bright purple/red colour and a very aromatic pepper and mixed spice bouquet that shouts 'cool-climate shiraz'. The wine is medium to full-bodied and elegantly shaped, soft fine tannins doing a great job to restrain the exuberant fruit. Refreshing acidity is perfectly harmonised. A gem of a shiraz, very much a northern Rhône style, appropriately labelled syrah.

95 POINTS

Bob Campbell MW - The Real Review

From a hot vintage with a low rainfall. Ripe plum and berry flavours, with less floral influence than usual. A ripe, firmly-structured, peppery wine with a seasoning of nutty oak. Accessible now but needs time to show its best.

94 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

Simply put, this is a beauty of a Bullnose bottling. The ancient red-iron soils of this long-standing Hawkes Bay estate have turned out an evocative nose of plum and blueberry amid a sappy, early spring forest of fresh flowers, herbs and spice (think sage, bay, peppercorn, anise). There's brightness and freshness to the silky palate despite the chiseled tannins. Captures not only a sense of place but also Syrah's often elusive tightrope walk of power and elegance. Drink now–2030.

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The Bullnose is Te Mata's top Syrah. Sourced predominantly from the richer soils of the Bridge Pa, the 2019 Syrah Bullnose is a mid-weight expression with attractive silky flesh. The long, fragrant finish is mouthwatering yet firm, offering structured tannins and notes reminiscent of cinnamon, star anise, cloves and red fruit.