Tasting Notes 2008
Te Mata Estate Woodthorpe Syrah ‘08 has a dark rose-bud colour, with aromas of oriental peonies, black plums and licorice. The palate has blueberry, spice and lavender flavours with fine, even tannins giving the wine focus and persistence. This wine will continue to develop in bottle for 2-5 years from harvest.
Te Mata Estate Woodthorpe Syrah ‘08 is a wonderful accompaniment to all red meats, savoury and lightly spiced dishes of Mediterranean cuisine, as well as soft ripened cheeses.
Technical Analysis
pH: 3.52
Total acidity as tartaric: 5.8g/l
Alcohol: 13%
Residual sugar: Nil
Winemaking
Fully-ripened syrah was combined with 4% viognier grapes, then destemmed and co-fermented.
The resulting wine remained on skins for extended maceration before pressing. It was then run off to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 15 months’ maturation, during which time it was regularly topped and racked.The wine received a traditional egg-white fi ning before being bottled in October 2009.
Vineyards
Te Mata Estate Woodthorpe Syrah 2008 was hand harvested from our Woodthorpe vineyard between 1 and 4 April 2008.
Origin
The co-fermentation of Syrah with small amounts of the white grape variety, Viognier, is a traditional winemaking technique in France's northern Rhone Valley. The addition of Viognier introduces a perfume/floral aroma to the soft red berry and spice flavours of Syrah.
