NEW ZEALAND | WINE
ASH RIDGE
SYRAH 2016
ASH RIDGE
2016 PREMIUM SYRAH
HAWKES BAY
SOUTH ISLAND, NZ
NOSE
Peach, spice, dark berries, pepper
PALATE
Boysenberry, toasty oak, soft spice
BODY
Full
PAIRING
Lamb, venison, game
CELLAR
Drink now or cellar 5-10 years
TASTING NOTES
"A classic Bridge Pa Syrah. On the nose the aromatics are black boy peach and spice with freshly picked dark berries. The palate is full bodied with fine firm tannins and a soft luscious boysenberry flavours with lingering toasty oak. This single vineyard Syrah was a mixture of whole berry fermented for maximum flavour and colour extraction and gentle macerated fruit to add tannin and body. Dark and mouthfilling, this wine is savoury and harmonious, with deep, ripe plum and boysenberry flavours, an elegant seam of pepper, fine-grained tannins, and a long, spicy finish."
WINERY
"A boutique family owned winery set in the premium Bridge Pa Triangle growing area of Hawke's Bay. We have spent 10 years developing our vineyards from bare land, and are now showing the fruits of this labour with premium Hawke's Bay varietals. We concentrate on the key Hawke's Bay varieties of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, using hands on viticulture and traditional winemaking techniques to achieve the absolute best from our terroir."
CELLAR DOOR
2543 State Highway 50 RD5 | Hastings, NZ 4175
Open everyday 10am-5pm
Tel: 06 650 4324 | cellar@ashridgewines.co.nz
JUST A TASTE
OVERVIEW
I visited Ash Ridge as part of a very fun Hawke's Bay full day wine tour with Prinsy's Tours. Lucky for all of us, this was only our 3rd stop out of 5 wineries for the day, meaning I still had SOME of my wits about me. Even with trying to spit out the tastings and not finish them, this was a big day of drinking, leading to a nap in the van on the way home, a greasy dinner, and a few texts I wish I could could take back...
But I digress. Ash Ridge is located in the Hawke's Bay wine region, the 2nd largest wine producing region in New Zealand. Ash Ridge is a smaller family winery, with a humble "cellar door" (NZ term for tasting room). While it didn't have all of the aesthetic "wow" factor that some of the larger wineries in the area have, this was a place where you immediately felt comfortable.
A FUN TOUR GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA,
DENMARK, ENGLAND, AND YOURS TRULY FROM GOOD OLE KENTUCKY
Our hilarious host Sonya and her husband Chris own the winery, and she kept making jokes about how much she drinks on the job ("Good thing I'm sleeping with the boss." Love her). They, along with their 29 year old winemaker Lauren, are making some really delicious wines.
OUR HOST HAD US CRACKING UP THE WHOLE TASTING
As someone that grew up in a family that ran a small business, I have a soft spot for "mom and pop" operations. (Although these people were more like "the cool parents that let you drink with them if you promise to spend the night," kind of mom and pop.) I love meeting the people behind the product, and as our host said, "There is no reason wine should be snobby- it's farming." Exactly! The people who are creating wine are hardworking humans that get dirty and put their blood, sweat, and tears into making something beautiful (hopefully not TOO literally). They have a passion for wine and the land, and I respect them so much.
PRICES RANGED FROM $22 NZD - $50 NZD
To show said respect, and because I had to have more, I bought a bottle of the 2016 Premium Syrah. I really enjoyed the savory, spice notes. I don't like much fruitiness in my wine, but I felt like this one had a good balance that made it enjoyable and interesting to drink. The rosé was also delicious, and if I had a bigger suitcase and bank account I would have bought some of that as well.
SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO OPEN IT UP AT THE PEAK. AND IT WAS.
So I had every intention of adding this Syrah to my cellar collection, and by "cellar" I mean the shelf in my hallway where I try to keep wines for as long as possible (averaging around 2 weeks after purchase). But I decided to grab it as I was getting ready to go on a sunrise hike at Roy's Peak (read the whole story here). I had an epiphany that if I was starting a wine and hiking blog, I should take some cool pictures of the wine WHILE I was hiking (why did it take me so long to put that together?). Well, through a mix of adrenaline, hypothermia, and social anxiety, I decided to not just take pictures of it, but to open it up and pass it around at the summit as the sun came out. I think it was a good choice. Some wines are meant for adventure and I think this Ash Ridge Premium Syrah is one of them. Just be careful kids.
ONE OF THE HITCHHIKERS I PICKED UP ON THE WAY TO THE TRAIL ENJOYING THE SYRAH (AND THE PHOTO OPP)
ASH RIDGE
ESTATE CHARDONNAY
2017
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
Lightly oaked style of chardonnay. Barrel fermented in largely seasoned oak, this wine has wonderful delicate aromatics of citrus and stonefruit. The palate is soft and textural with notes of white peach.
FROM THE WINETROTTER:
Mild aromatics on nose, interesting palate and mouth feel. Little oak toast.
ASH RIDGE
PREMIUM VIOGNIER
2017
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
Aromas of freshly picked apricots and sweet spice. This wine is lush with summer fruit sweetness, floral and perfumed. Balanced acidity gives this wine a lovely structure and length.
FROM THE WINETROTTER:
Fruity palate but not sweet, nice acidity. Slight peach flavor, perhaps a carry over from the peach farm that used to be on this land.
ASH RIDGE
ESTATE ROSÉ
2018
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
Vibrant strawberries and watermelon make your mouth salivate. A dry style with lovely balanced acidity, makes this wine refreshing a joy to drink.
FROM THE WINETROTTER:
This is a "Bro-sé" - puts some hair on your chest. Great color from Merlot grapes, fruity pastry nose, slight pepper, dry
ASH RIDGE
PREMIUM SYRAH
2016
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
Dark and mouthfilling, this wine is savoury and harmonious, with deep, ripe plum and boysenberry flavours, an elegant seam of pepper, fine grained tannins, and a long, spicy finish.
FROM THE WINETROTTER:
1st varietal they planted. Spicy, earth, meaty nose, nice and dry, good spice.
ASH RIDGE
PREMIUM RUBY SYRAH
2018
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
A fortified Syrah with bold flavours of blackcurrents and boysenberry. The alcohol is forthright yet balanced, with contrasting sweetness. A unique wine with intensity and balance.
FROM THE WINEMAKER:
A fortified Syrah with bold flavours of blackcurrents and boysenberry. The alcohol is forthright yet balanced, with contrasting sweetness. A unique wine with intensity and balance.