Church Road McDonald Series Syrah

The palate is fragrant, dark‑fruited, and supple, opening with ripe plum, blackberry, and boysenberry. The fruit feels generous but not heavy, carried by a line of fresh, balanced acidity that keeps the wine lifted. A thread of violet, black pepper, and gentle liquorice brings aromatic lift, while the mid‑palate shows a soft, velvety texture that feels characteristic of Hawke’s Bay Syrah. Subtle oak influence adds warm spice and a faint cocoa edge, supporting rather than dominating the fruit. The tannins are fine, supple, and quietly persistent, giving the wine shape without firmness. The finish is long, dark‑fruited, and gently spiced, tapering with notes of plum skin, blackberry, and a touch of savoury earth, leaving an impression of elegance and flavour length.