LEEFIELD STATION STOCKMAN SYRAH 2022

TASTING NOTE

Black and red berry aromas are accompanied by cooler notes of mint and dry herbs. A dry palate that deftly balances natural fruit sweetness with the freshness of cool climate acidity, ripe, silky tannins and light chocolate note for a sustained finish.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

5-8 years.

ORIGIN

Leefield Station, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough.

VARIETY

100% Syrah.

WINEMAKING

This block of Syrah is found in a very warm mesoclimate on the river terraces at Leefield Station. An extended growing season allowed the fruit to hang on the vine until the flavour and tannin development was ideal. Hand-picked, this fruit was destemmed to an open-top fermenter and cold-soaked prior to fermentation, spending a total of two weeks on skins before pressing to a combination of new and one-year-old French oak puncheons.

The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and continued aging in oak for the next 20 months, with several rackings during this time helping to harmonise the tannin profile. Finally, the 2022 Leefield Station Syrah was blended in September 2023, then finely filtered before bottling.

ANALYSIS

Alcohol 13.5%
pH 3.71
Titratable Acidity 5.7g/L
Residual Sugar 0.24g/L
Vegan Certified

VINTAGE

Record rainfall in July, August and a warm start to September, permitted an energetic start to the growing season. This coincided with double the usual number of frosts which were replaced by warmer temperatures and humid northerly airflows in October.

Early season varieties flowered rapidly while later season varietals were slightly challenged by a cool, wet start to December. Increasing temperatures and a warm, dry January ultimately ensured an abundance of fruit.

Despite heavy February rains, good vineyard practice and increased sunshine hours through the tail end of February meant the vast majority of the resulting fruit was clean and ripe.

Harvesting began in early March due to early season disease pressure with positive fruit flavours indicating physiological ripeness.

The team are excited about the structural diversity and bright complex flavours of the 2022 wines.