Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Heritage Collection R D 1 Syrah has blackberry and black cherry aromas with hints of mulberries and baking spices. Medium bodied, it has appealing richness in the mid-palate, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and a long smoky / spicy finish. Drink this one now to 2015. Sherwood Estate was started 25 years ago by Dayne and Jill Sherwood. They now have 8 vineyards covering 200 acres - 3 in Marlborough and 5 in Waipara. “Waipara has good mid-palate weight compared to Marlborough with lower cropping in general and the tannins tend to be a bit firmer,” Dayne commented during my visit in July 2011. The wines are naturally fermented using indigenous yeast. The “Heritage” range is made purely with Waipara fruit, with these wines in particular aiming at “being different from your average NZ wine”. These guys are doing a commendable job and their prices offer incredible value.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030