Bilancia, La Collina Syrah, Hawke's Bay

Thanksgiving 2024; 11/26/2024-11/28/2024 (Rock Hill, SC) : This is the bottle I was most looking forward to during our Thanksgiving trip to the in-laws and it did not disappoint. The first thing you notice is the cork closure rather than a typical NZ screwtop! In the glass it shows a little bricking, but still quite dark and not as garnet as I expected. On the nose it is full-on cigar box and ripe dark fruits. Plum, blueberry, fig. On the …

2005 vintage

Blackberries, rhubarb, black pepper and olives. A shy nose, but revealed some nice treats with a bit of coaxing. Sweet fruited in the mouth, with grippy, slightly drying tannins. Elegant new world cool climate Syrah. Drink up, I think. (92 Very good wine)

2005 vintage

Poor organisation meant that I cracked open this bottle to have with a steak as soon as the wine arrived in the post...mistake...Savoury, meaty, peppery and earthy with a muted blackberry and liquorice shadow. The palate is very much a reflection of the nose, tannins are present but quite silky and the alcohol is a bit intrusive for me. Stuck the rest under argon and will attend to it in a week or so. Ha! So much for a week. …

2005 vintage

Good nose of black fruit with a little tar and black olive. Similar on the palate but dryer than expected with some wet cement thrown in. Short, parched finish makes it better with food than without.

2005 vintage

My notes are not that different other than now 3+ years later and a little bit softer...not a fruity wine and lots of spice

2005 vintage

Impenetrable ruby. Despite the 10 years, almost more purple left in it than red signs of age. A lot of complexity to the nose. Pepper dominates at first, but gives way to red and black cherries, violets, and spice. Powdery fine tannin, weighty body, flavour bursting with juicy sweet fruit, with some gamey complexity adding to the interest. Still very primary, but already excellent. Although it has a bit of alcohol, it seems in balance with the acid, and the …

2005 vintage

Didn't rock the wife's boat. Nothing really special. OK fruit, not complex, not a great finish. Was asked if we had any more in the cellar and fortunately we don't.

2005 vintage

Deep hues. Black and blue fruit. Solid but not overly complex or interesting.

2005 vintage

very much looks to the northern Rhone...cool climate syrah with lots of spice and I guess meat....not at all heavy and solid fruit...pretty wine but not sure I'd go $65 again for one of these....should age easily for quite some time

2005 vintage

Fairly restrained syrah. Pleasant nose. Distinct cherry aftertaste that dissipates with time.

2005 vintage

I has read for years about this wine, mostly in the context of being one NZ's best syrah and a great example of cool climate syrah. And it is. Beautiful mouth coating tannins, freshness and balance and a excellent depth of flavor. For all that, I didn't find the wine especially enjoyable. Maybe it is the white pepper nose, but it didn't have the beauty I wanted nor the grunt of it's best Australian cousins.

2005 vintage

This wine was very solid, but not to knock on the wine, my favorite part was the bottle itself. It had this huge indentation in the bottle that you could stick your thumb in for pouring. You almost pour with no wrist at all, it's all elbow if that makes sense. But as for the wine it was not too gamey which I do prefer it that. A bit spicey with a lovely body.

2005 vintage

This was double decanted a while before drinking. Dark purple colour turning red at the rim. The nose is just breathtaking - explosive and complex with aromas of white pepper, lavender, perfume, Asian spices, dark fruits and meaty notes. It's a little light on the palate showing more pepper, dark fruits and floral notes, a silky texture and good acidity with a medium length finish.

2005 vintage

I liked this wine. Everything about it is feminine - floral, perfume, strong lavender. If paired right (excellent with high flavor appetizers, cheese/crackers) it works. Expect a feminine wine and be open it accordingly, and it won't disappoint. And of course, de-cant at least a little bit (30-60 min).

2005 vintage

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Bilancia, La Collina Syrah, Hawke's Bay

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