Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah 2022 14.25% 750ml

Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah 2022 14.25% 750ml

TASTING NOTES

AROMA
In the glass, it opens with lifted aromas of crushed black pepper, violet, charred herbs, and graphite, over a core of dark plum and wild blackberry. There’s a sense of restrained power with the oak seamlessly integrated, offering subtle smoky edges and hints of cured meat, clove, and cedar.

PALATE
The palate is taut and finely structured, with a silken line of acidity carrying dark fruit through a framework of ripe, ferrous tannins. There’s a mineral salinity that anchors the wine in place with a nod to its coastal origins while an echo of black olive and cracked pepper lingers long on the finish. Built for cellaring but compelling in its youth, the 2022 Dreadnought is a masterclass in elegance and precision, a true expression of cool-climate coastal Syrah.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS
A commanding expression of Syrah from a near-perfect Waiheke vintage, the 2022 Dreadnought retains the signature tension and poise of previous years, while pushing deeper into savoury complexity and structure.

VINIFICATION
Fruit was hand-harvested from our steep hillside vineyards on Waiheke’s eastern reaches. Bunches were mostly de-stemmed, with a small portion of whole clusters retained to enhance aromatic lift and texture along with some 100% whole bunch components for further complexity in the blend. Fermentations were conducted in open-top vessels with gentle pump overs to extract fine tannin and structure, without overworking the must. Indigenous yeasts were used in our natural approach to red winemaking.

MATURATION
Following pressing, the wine was transferred to both seasoned and new French oak puncheons, where it completed malolactic fermentation and matured undisturbed for 18 months. Dreadnought was then blended and held in tank for a further 3 months prior to bottling.