Mills Reef Reserve Syrah

2022, Hawkes Bay New Zealand

93/100 (Cam Douglas MS) - "Dry, well made with plenty of length and style. Best drinking from 2025 through 2029+."
Reserve label using fruit from the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke's Bay, aged 12 monts in 25% expensive new French oak
Silky, smooth, medium bodied red, dark berry and cherry fruits with a touch of spice
Perfect with a cut of good old Kiwi lamb

53 in stock (can be backordered)

Charles Mills – sea captain, gold miner and former Member of Parliament and Minister of Trade & Custom 1890-1908. He’s a bit of a legend in the family tree of the name behind this iconic Hawke’s Bay producer, so you can see why they ended up naming their wines after him. As for the reef bit, nothing to do with anything he smoked but everything to do with how he spent his days – watching for reefs at sea and mining for reefs of gold.

Although their vineyards are mostly based in Hawke’s Bay their vineyard is actually just out out of Tauranga – and it’s flash as! Twenty aces of landscaped grounds, wine making and bottling facilities, an underground cellar, 150-seat restuarant and conference centre – and quite the spot to get hitched at!

Their 2022 Reserve Syrah is produced with top notch Gimblett Gravels fruit and with 12 months spent in French and American oak this sure is a step up in quality from their Estate Syrah. Silky, smooth, medium bodied red, dark berry and cherry fruits with a touch of spice. Perfect with a cut of good old Kiwi lamb or game meats.