You might have noticed that I'm a bit of a Formula One fan, so forgive me a minute whilst I go back to 1997. There was a 22 year old Columbian driver called Juan Pablo Montoya racing in the feeder series to Formula 1. He was touted as "The One to Watch" and got signed to the Championship winning Williams team with the intention of allowing him to ply his trade in lower formulae and then move to the team as a driver once he had served his apprenticeship.
The next year, a 12 year old Karter called Lewis Hamilton was signed by the 1998 championship winning team, McLaren, on a similar deal, where he would be funded through the lower series and eventually, if he was good enough, he would join the Formula 1 team in years to come. He too was "The One to Watch".
That is really where these two drivers careers stopped being similar. Montoya won the F3000 title in '98 and then went to the USA and won the Indycar championship in 1999, and then won the biggest race in the world, the Indianapolis 500, the year later. Hamilton spent the next three years winning kart championships and learning his skill. In 2001, Montoya moved to F1 with Williams, and Hamilton started in cars. For the next four years Montoya struggled at Williams, albeit winning some races, but for 2005 he moved to McLaren where for the next two years he struggled again. "The One to Watch" was a massive disappointment and left the team, and the sport, half way through 2006. On 30th September that year Hamilton signed for the team and became the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion. The other "One to Watch" had triumphed at the height of his sport.
Which is why I was hesitant to be expecting too much from "The One to Watch" at the recent New Zealand Wine Growers tasting in Edinburgh. Kiwi Syrah is apparently the next big thing to be coming out of this Sauvignon Blanc growing nation, and it had a table devoted to it at the tasting. I was worried as Pinot Noir is such a mixed bag from New Zealand. For every great Pinot from this nation there are a dozen that are overstewed unbalanced messes pretending to be Pinot Noir. I expected the same from Syrah, some great wines but the majority would be a disappointing mess. I suspected Syrah to be a Montoya, a few solid performances but on the whole a lot of poor showings. I was pleasantly surprised...
2009 Mission Estate Reserve Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £15
Off balance, a bit confected and pretty soft with not a lot of syrah characters. It is nice enough on the palate, balanced with hints of pepper but not inspiring. 5/10
2009 Te Mata Estate Bullnose Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £23
Good round fruit with hints of spice coming through. The palate is fresh, clean with decent fruit structure. The finish is all about parma violets. It is a very pretty wine, and, although a touch pricy, is worth the money. 8.5/10
2008 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £13
A very commercial aroma - showing everything a syrah should be in a very punter friendly way. The palate is a bit vibrant, some ok fruit coming through - plums and cherris - but it is a bit too commercial and confected. Then on the finish, the spice attacks you a bit as if to remind you that it is a syrah. Having said that, it is better than the Mission Estate. 6/10
2008 Passage Rock Syrah (Waiheke Island) £TBC
Meaty - like peppered beef jerky on the nose. The palate is not bad, a bit of pepper and some violets and raspberries. A smoky element on the back end with a long, very pleasant finish. This is a pretty good Syrah, showing restraint, depth and with a gorgeous texture. 9/10
2008 Bilancia Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £22
A pit pongy on the nose. In fact it stinks. The palate starts off well but then becomes a tannic, peppery mess. 4/10
2008 Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah (Waiheke Island) £26.00
Smoky and meaty on the nose - almost like smoked wine! It is very sweet up front, but with lovely, full on fruit balanced by firm tannins, bundles of spice and a lot of darker savoury flavours. It beats you up a bit, but with a huge steak, this is the wine you want. 8/10
2008 Craggy Range Syrah (Gimblett Gravels) £20
Sweet up front on the nose, followed by aromatic smoke notes. Then the tannins are there but not firm... basically, this is a diet version of the Man O'War but its flaws are more visible. 7/10
2007 Vidal Estate Reserve Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £17
Some floral elements, with subtle smoky aromas. The palate has an up front sweet cherry flavour, with not a lot of black pepper and some delightful pink peppercorns. I like the smoky elements on the finish, almost like a bit of sweet smoked bacon. 8/10
2006 Bridge Pa Louis Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £22
Holy sweet fruit Batman! Loads of sweet fruit, Parma Violets and bundles more sweet elements. The palate has a cedar and smoke flavour, with more sweet berries , black peppercorn and a velvety finish. But despite all of these big flavours, it is so superbly balanced and elegant. Really good. 8.5/10
2006 Forrest Estate John Forrest Collection Syrah (Gimblett Gravels) £19
Sweet and gentle with nice peppery hits and a super soft palate. A light tannin comes in with floral, fruity, spicy tones. 8/10
2007 Trinity Hill Homage Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £70
A subtle, ripe fruit aroma of crushed lavender and a tiny hint of orange. The palate is dark, with velvety tannins and sweeter fruit. It is noticeable as a New World wine, and is very good, but horrifically expensive. It is just too polished and I think that the half of the other wines are more interesting wines at a fraction of the price. 6/10
Syrah does have a future in New Zealand, and there are some great wines coming out of the country. It will never approach the great Syrah producing nations of France or Australia in terms of volume, but that isn't a bad thing. Like Oregon Chardonnay, Australian Cabernet or Bulgarian Pinot Noir (seriously, you should try it!) it can be a wine lovers wine, unknown, untouched and uncommercialised. I'd be happy about that.
The next year, a 12 year old Karter called Lewis Hamilton was signed by the 1998 championship winning team, McLaren, on a similar deal, where he would be funded through the lower series and eventually, if he was good enough, he would join the Formula 1 team in years to come. He too was "The One to Watch".
That is really where these two drivers careers stopped being similar. Montoya won the F3000 title in '98 and then went to the USA and won the Indycar championship in 1999, and then won the biggest race in the world, the Indianapolis 500, the year later. Hamilton spent the next three years winning kart championships and learning his skill. In 2001, Montoya moved to F1 with Williams, and Hamilton started in cars. For the next four years Montoya struggled at Williams, albeit winning some races, but for 2005 he moved to McLaren where for the next two years he struggled again. "The One to Watch" was a massive disappointment and left the team, and the sport, half way through 2006. On 30th September that year Hamilton signed for the team and became the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion. The other "One to Watch" had triumphed at the height of his sport.
Which is why I was hesitant to be expecting too much from "The One to Watch" at the recent New Zealand Wine Growers tasting in Edinburgh. Kiwi Syrah is apparently the next big thing to be coming out of this Sauvignon Blanc growing nation, and it had a table devoted to it at the tasting. I was worried as Pinot Noir is such a mixed bag from New Zealand. For every great Pinot from this nation there are a dozen that are overstewed unbalanced messes pretending to be Pinot Noir. I expected the same from Syrah, some great wines but the majority would be a disappointing mess. I suspected Syrah to be a Montoya, a few solid performances but on the whole a lot of poor showings. I was pleasantly surprised...
2009 Mission Estate Reserve Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £15
Off balance, a bit confected and pretty soft with not a lot of syrah characters. It is nice enough on the palate, balanced with hints of pepper but not inspiring. 5/10
2009 Te Mata Estate Bullnose Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £23
Good round fruit with hints of spice coming through. The palate is fresh, clean with decent fruit structure. The finish is all about parma violets. It is a very pretty wine, and, although a touch pricy, is worth the money. 8.5/10
2008 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £13
A very commercial aroma - showing everything a syrah should be in a very punter friendly way. The palate is a bit vibrant, some ok fruit coming through - plums and cherris - but it is a bit too commercial and confected. Then on the finish, the spice attacks you a bit as if to remind you that it is a syrah. Having said that, it is better than the Mission Estate. 6/10
2008 Passage Rock Syrah (Waiheke Island) £TBC
Meaty - like peppered beef jerky on the nose. The palate is not bad, a bit of pepper and some violets and raspberries. A smoky element on the back end with a long, very pleasant finish. This is a pretty good Syrah, showing restraint, depth and with a gorgeous texture. 9/10
2008 Bilancia Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £22
A pit pongy on the nose. In fact it stinks. The palate starts off well but then becomes a tannic, peppery mess. 4/10
2008 Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah (Waiheke Island) £26.00
Smoky and meaty on the nose - almost like smoked wine! It is very sweet up front, but with lovely, full on fruit balanced by firm tannins, bundles of spice and a lot of darker savoury flavours. It beats you up a bit, but with a huge steak, this is the wine you want. 8/10
2008 Craggy Range Syrah (Gimblett Gravels) £20
Sweet up front on the nose, followed by aromatic smoke notes. Then the tannins are there but not firm... basically, this is a diet version of the Man O'War but its flaws are more visible. 7/10
2007 Vidal Estate Reserve Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £17
Some floral elements, with subtle smoky aromas. The palate has an up front sweet cherry flavour, with not a lot of black pepper and some delightful pink peppercorns. I like the smoky elements on the finish, almost like a bit of sweet smoked bacon. 8/10
2006 Bridge Pa Louis Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £22
Holy sweet fruit Batman! Loads of sweet fruit, Parma Violets and bundles more sweet elements. The palate has a cedar and smoke flavour, with more sweet berries , black peppercorn and a velvety finish. But despite all of these big flavours, it is so superbly balanced and elegant. Really good. 8.5/10
2006 Forrest Estate John Forrest Collection Syrah (Gimblett Gravels) £19
Sweet and gentle with nice peppery hits and a super soft palate. A light tannin comes in with floral, fruity, spicy tones. 8/10
2007 Trinity Hill Homage Syrah (Hawkes Bay) £70
A subtle, ripe fruit aroma of crushed lavender and a tiny hint of orange. The palate is dark, with velvety tannins and sweeter fruit. It is noticeable as a New World wine, and is very good, but horrifically expensive. It is just too polished and I think that the half of the other wines are more interesting wines at a fraction of the price. 6/10
Syrah does have a future in New Zealand, and there are some great wines coming out of the country. It will never approach the great Syrah producing nations of France or Australia in terms of volume, but that isn't a bad thing. Like Oregon Chardonnay, Australian Cabernet or Bulgarian Pinot Noir (seriously, you should try it!) it can be a wine lovers wine, unknown, untouched and uncommercialised. I'd be happy about that.
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