Viticulture

The Staete Landt vineyard, situated on the Golden Mile in the Rapaura area of Marlborough, experienced a mild winter and spring during the 2008 vintage. Budburst occurred in September and was followed by a period of good healthy growth, through until flowering at the end of November. Conditions during fruit set were also perfect, providing a healthy and relatively large crop.
The summer expressed hot dry weather continued and through until veraison in February. The fruit was thinned extensively to ensure concentration of flavour.
A long period of dry and mild conditions leading into harvest allowed the fruit to ripen at its leisure. The Syrah arrived at the winery with great tannin structure, extremely clean and with a deep crimson colour.

The Staete Landt Syrah was planted in 2005 in two blocks on the hottest stony riverbeds in the vineyard. The two blocks comprise three different clones, Syrah 470, Chaves and the Old clone, each clone grafted on various rootstock: Riparia Gloire and 3309. Each parcel expresses a different flavour profile and tannin structure, ensuring various interesting components for the final Syrah blend.

Harvest Dates: 14/04/08
Brix: 23.0

Winemaking

All the Syrah grapes were hand picked, de-stemmed (about 20-30% whole berries) and underwent a cold soak for seven days. After the primary fermentation, a long post ferment maceration took place for between 30-40 days(!).
Once post fermentation maceration was completed the wine was pressed off and settled briefly before being racked straight to barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. There was a mixture of 40% new French barriques and 60% older French oak.
The wines aged on lees until they were eventually racked in early 2009 when they were blended and returned to barrel. This Syrah was aged in barrel for a total of 20 months.

Wine Analysis

Alcohol: 13.3%; Acidity: 5.4g/L; pH: 3.53; Sugar: <1g/L

Tasting Note

The 2008 Staete Landt Syrah is the second Syrah produced by the vineyard. It expresses the unique terroir of the old stony riverbed site beautifully. The wine has an attractive nose of ripe black cherries and blackberries. On the palate this wine shows white pepper, dark ripe plums and bay leaf liquorice. A well balanced, complex and sophisticated typical cool climate style Syrah, with excellent structure and elegant tannins. This wine is drinking very well now but will repay cellaring for at least three to five years.