Syrah with a complex, brooding nature. It has dark fruitted, brambly, botanical aromatics. It’s medium bodied, supply and has lengthy, chalky tannin. Organically grown fruit was source from the banks of the Oratia stream in West Auckland. It was wild yeast fermented with whole bunches for one month. Having worked for Francois Villard in the Rhone Valley, Laurence from Gravel Down has had the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best Syrah producers, and it shows. 

We're always excited for new releases from Laurence and his partner Rebecca Thorne. The couple moved back to New Zealand and set up a tiny winery in a Kauri shed overlooking the Waima Ranges in Northland, before relocating to Nelson. They source fruit from small organic vineyards in West Auckland and Hawkes Bay and make wines with minimal intervention. They’re certainly on our list of ones to watch.