On the nose, it’s pure Waiheke: black olive, sea spray,
cracked pepper and wild herbs, wrapped around dark
cherry, mulberry and blood plum. There’s a savoury, almost
ferrous edge; wet iron, smoked meat and crushed rock,
the kind of thing that makes you stop mid-swirl and lean
back in. Dark fruits glide across the palate, held in place
by fine, graphite-like tannins and a line of bright maritime
acidity that keeps everything taut and alive. There’s less
gloss than in sunnier years, but far more precision, nerve
and detail. Oak plays a quiet but confident supporting role
letting the vineyard and the vintage do the talking. The
finish is long and gently smoky with a saline finish, like the
last embers of a beach fire as the tide creeps back in.
Dreadnought 2023 is not here to charm you on day one,
it’s here to earn your respect, a storm season Syrah, built
for the long voyage.