Man O' War

Dreadnought Syrah

On the nose, its pure Waiheke: black olive, sea spray, cracked pepper and wild herbs, wrapped around dark cherry, mulberry and blood plum. Theres a savoury, almost ferrous edge; wet iron, smoked meat and crushed rock, the kind of thing that makes you stop mid-swirl and lean back in. Dark fruits glide across the palate, held in place by fine, graphite-like tannins and a line of bright maritime acidity that keeps everything taut and alive. Theres less gloss than in sunnier years, but far more precision, nerve and detail. Oak plays a quiet but confident supporting role letting the vineyard and the vintage do the talking. The finish is long and gently smoky with a saline finish, like the last embers of a beach fire as the tide creeps back in.