Le Sol is always a magnificent wine and a moment in time but this 09 is something rather special.  An opaque black core with a dark garnet rim. Redolent with black cherry, blueberry, melted liquorice, wild thyme and, of course, black pepper. This is intensely flavoured with layers of fine ripe tannin. The flavours just go on and on. A remarkable vintage.

Le Sol (french: the soil) is born of the renowned Gimblett Gravels viticultural appellation with its gravelly soils attracting the sun in summer and insulating the vines in winter. The vines are planted in the stoniest parts of the vineyard to a heritage clone of Syrah brought to New Zealand in the 1840s. Intensively hand managed, the grapes reveal a deep and dark Syrah with purple hues. Le Sol is always aromatically pure with a luscious yet elegant mid-palate and a distinctive fine tannin finish.