Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2013
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Wine &
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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Wine & Spirits
The Bullnose Vineyard is Te Mata’s warmest site, ripening this syrah’s tannins to smooth textures and fine-grained detail. The fruit is tart, like huckleberries and wild blueberries. But it’s the cool red-and-black-peppercorn scent that makes this wine so compelling. It smells fantastic and should only get better with several years of age.
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Wine Enthusiast
Te Mata's Bullnose doesn't receive nearly the media attention of its flagship Coleraine, but it's a benchmark for Hawke's Bay Syrah—the violets and pepper on the nose couldn't be mistaken for any other variety. This is a bit creamy in texture on the midpalate but not weighty at all, more agile or spry, with a fine, silky feel on the finish. Drink now–2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Produced from a single vineyard planted in 1990, the 2013 Bullnose Syrah has a deep garnet-purple and very peppery notes on the nose over a core of lovely black cherry and black raspberry fruit with hints of lavender and anise. Medium-bodied, elegant, taut and muscular, it gives firm, rounded tannins and great freshness in the mouth with lingering cracked pepper flavors.
Rating: 90+
Other Vintages
2020-
Robert
Parker - Decanter
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James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast - Decanter
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Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling - Decanter
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Robert
Parker
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
An eclectic region on the east coast of the North Island, Hawkes Bay extends from wide, fertile, coastal plains, inland, to the coast range, whose peaks reach as high as 5,300 feet. While the flatter areas were historically more popular because they are easier to cultivate, their alluvial soils can be too fertile for vines. In the late 20th century, the drive for quality led growers to the hills where soils are free-draining, limestone-rich and more suited to producing high quality wines.
Over the passing of time, the old Ngaruroro River laid down deep, gravelly beds, which were subsequently exposed after a huge flood in the 1860’s. In the 1980s growers identified this stretch, which continues for approximately 800 ha, and named it the Gimblett Gravels. The zone has proven to be ideal for the production of excellent red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
Today the area takes well-earned recognition for its Bordeaux blends and other reds. Expressive of intense stewed red and black berry with gentle herbaceous characters, Gimblett Gravels wines are suggestive of their cool climate origin, and on par with other top-notch Bordeaux blends around the globe.
Chardonnay is the top white grape in Hawkes Bay, making elegant wines, strong in stone fruit character. Sauvignon blanc comes in close behind, notable for its tropical, fruit forward qualities.