Seasoned with a dash of Viognier, this 2008 Wild Rock Angels Dust Syrah has a ripe savory/earthy bouquet with touches of melted tar. The palate is full-bodied, perhaps just lacking a little backbone and acidity, but clean fruit that is rounded and appealing with white pepper sprinkling the aftertaste. This is a commendable entry-level Syrah. Drink now-2013. The wines from Craggy Range were tasted both in Hawkes Bay in January 2010 and then in London six months later. Steve Smith, Rod Easthope and the team continue to furnish consumers with a wide portfolio of terroir-based wines that satisfy both the value and prestige end of the market. Having tasted many of their wines, there is no doubt that they have ‘toned down’ their style, the initial releases being rather hubristic and a tad top-heavy with oak. This sense of refinement has lent the wines greater poise and breeding. Their reds are still their strongest suit, in particular their flagship labels such as ‘Le Sol’ and ‘Sophia’, but do not overlook their Chardonnays that exude great purity and Burgundian poise. Meanwhile their ‘Wild Rock’ entry-level range, which is treated as a completely separate entity to Craggy Range, contains some delightful varietals that form a neat introduction to the delights of Hawkes Bay’s wines.Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300.

From Hawkes Bay, the 2007 Angel’s Dust Syrah has smoky bacon crisps on the nose – quite rustic and lacking a little freshness. The palate is soft and approachable, low acidity, very meaty with loads of bacon fat. Soft landing on the finish with just a touch of heat. But it is full of character and forms perfect week-day quaffing. Drink now. No known American importer.