Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2020

Product Description:
From the old red iron soils of the famed Bullnose Vineyard, Te Mata Estate crafts its finest expression of Syrah — rich, floral, and luxuriously textured. The 2020 Bullnose Syrah is luminous deep magenta in the glass, bursting with fresh raspberry, black cherry syrup, spiced plums, and exotic peonies. Layers of cinnamon, nutmeg, and earth mingle with ripe boysenberry and blackberry fruit, creating a wine of both elegance and power.

The palate is sustained by fine-grained tannins, delivering length and poise, while the wine’s velvety texture speaks to its impeccable balance. A Syrah of rare beauty and depth, it represents the pinnacle of Hawke’s Bay winemaking.

First planted in 1990, the Bullnose Vineyard is named after the early Morris Cowley “Bullnose” car, with its distinctive radiator and emblem inspiring the wine’s label. Fruit for the 2020 vintage was hand-harvested between 26–30 March from the Bullnose, Hotspur, and Isosceles vineyards, situated in the celebrated Gimblett Gravels district. These parcels benefit from free-draining, mineral-rich soils laid down by the old Ngaruroro River.

Each parcel was destemmed and underwent warm-plunged fermentation before extended maceration on skins. Following pressing and malolactic fermentation, the wines matured in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barriques for 15 months before blending and bottling in December 2021. 

Closed under Diam cork, the Bullnose Syrah 2020 will evolve beautifully for up to 15 years from harvest.

Tasting Notes:
NOSE
– Fresh raspberry, black cherry syrup, spiced plums, oriental peonies.
PALATE
– Boysenberry, blackberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, earthy minerality.
FINISH
– Fine-grained tannins, sustained length, velvety texture.

Reviews & Accolades

“Deep, purple-tinted Syrah with a wonderfully fine-grained, perfectly-pitched texture. Flavours include cassis, plum, dark berries, anise, black pepper, floral and red rose together with spicy oak. A very impressive wine.” – Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, 98 points

“Entices with strawberry and red cherry fruit and florals rather than the more exotic perfume of the 2019. Gorgeously textured, it blossoms in the mouth. Rich tannic substance coats the palate with a powdery veil. Approachable now, with the structure to last a decade and beyond.” – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, 94 points

“A brilliant deep purple-hued, polished appearance. The palate is filled with minerals of clay and stone, violets, black currants, dark cherry and fleshy baked raspberry fruit. A trace of milk chocolate evolves as spices and new French oak emerge. Abundant polished tannins give mouthfeel, energy and length. Complex and dry. Best from late 2023 through 2030.” – Cameron Douglas MS, 95 points

“Already a pleasure to drink. The nose is intense with fresh blackberry, dark plum, violet and peppery spices. On the palate, serious structure with velvety ripe tannins. Deliciously complex and powerful, with immense cellar potential.” – Rebecca Gibb MW (as cited by Champagne Company), 94 points

"Deep, dark, almost opaque ruby-red. Restrained brambly dark fruit on the nose. Rich, rounded, and gamey with plentiful black cherries and an intense black-licorice core. The finish is tightly structured and long, with fresh acidity lifting the fruit." – DCAMW, July 2022

Finer Details:
Style – Red Wine
Varietal – Syrah (Shiraz)
Country – New Zealand
Region – Hawke’s Bay
Vintage – 2020
Bottle Size – 750ml
ABV – 13.5%
Closure – Diam Cork