Man O’War, Dreadnought, Waiheke Island, Aukland, 2012

Made from five tiny vineyards on Waiheke Island – Man O’War has 150ha planted on 76 individual hillside blocks. 2012 was a wet and challenging vintage. To produce a wine of such quality in a year like that is a great credit to Man O’War’s adventurous winemaker Duncan McTavish and his team. It was a vintage where handpicking and sorting were essential if you wished to achieve a top result, which they did.   Melanie Brown<br /> Delightfully charismatic purity that runs through this wine. Exceptional acid balance and oak integration, with layers of flavour that evolve on the palate to a long, attractive length.   Christine Parkinson<br /> Piquant black fruit and sweet cola and raspberry flavours with distinct minerality. Serious, dense and long. Poised, elegant and classy.   Philip Tuck MW<br /> Muted spice on the nose and a medium-bodied palate for Gimblett Gravels. This is a more elegant style of New Zealand Syrah that will have great appeal. Impressive length and very sensitively made.