Te Motu
Kuikui Syrah 2009 750ml

Library Stock

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Named in dedication to Margaret Dunleavy, the green-fingered mother of eleven, Kuikui means ‘the matriarch’ in Maori. As her children planted vines in the Onetangi Valley, she placed and nurtured the rose bushes at the end of each row.

Kuikui represents the best expression of Syrah our estate will produce. 

Hand-harvested from low-yielding vines, with an obsessive level of fruit sorting. Only 600 bottles produced, with less than 300 bottles in the final allocation. 

Last tasted in 2016 when I suggested this wine might be at its peak. I was clearly wrong. It is certainly showing forest floor, Bovril bottle age characters but it is delicious (if you like bottle-aged red wine). Cedar, old books, old leather and Christmas cake flavours. A real treat.

96 Points / 5 stars -  Bob Campbell MW 26 JAN 2023