97 points,

Bob Campbell, MW, February 2011

Big wine with impressively intense fruit but beautifully structured with a silken texture. Lots of flavors happening here with layers and layers of ripe berry, spice and subtle floral and savoury notes. This is the best Le Sol yet. (no Viognier - "it dilutes the wine's character").

Chuck Hayward, JJ Buckley, September 2012

Pronounced, focused aromas of dark blue fruit, black olive, and cracked black pepper are immediately apparent and very reminiscent of northern Rhone. With a compact and precise mouthfeel, the intense black fruit core is dusted with pepper, clove, and olive. Although tightly wound, the fruit notes are generous and concentrated, gaining breadth across the palate with some air. Soft, spicy tannins on the finish, wrapped around a final rush of mineral-infused black fruit. Combining the pure fruit of the New World with the spice and shape of the northern Rhone, this is a compelling syrah from one New Zealand's masters of the varietal.

96 points,

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, August 2012

What a gorgeous Syrah this is. New Zealand's finest? Quite possibly. It is taciturn at first, so I give it an hour in the decanter and boy, does it repay you. Pure blackcurrant, cassis and boysenberry on the nose that seems to have sculpted by winemaker Steve Smith, piece by piece. The palate is beautifully balanced, primal with exquisite blackberry, blueberry and cassis, perfect acidity with a refined, composed finish that can only leave you with a grin on your face. Heavenly. Tasted December 2011.

92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, October 2011

Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Gimblett Gravels "Le Sol" Syrah gives ripe blackberry, blueberry and Chinese five spice aromas with pinches of black pepper and anise. Medium-full bodied, ripe and richly fruited on the palate it's got a solid backbone of firm grainy tannins and crisp acid, finishing long. Approachable now, it should drink best 2012 through 2017+. 92+ -Lisa Perrotti-Brown

93 points,

Wine Enthusiast, August 2012

Full bodied, creamy in texture and long on the finish, the 2009 Le Sol is the complete package. Blackberry fruit is accented by cracked pepper and vanilla, but closer examination reveals hints of black olive and coffee as well. The tannins are exquisitely silky on the finish, where the fruit comes to the fore. Drink now-2020. - J.C.

95 points,

Wine Front, June 2011

The 2009 edition of Le Sol syrah is a far less overt, flashy wine than some of the releases of the past. It's tight and controlled with flashes of white peppery spice amid blueberried and black cherry-like fruit flavour. There's a clip of cedary, smoky, meaty oak and excellent extension through the finish. It's class personified. Has fruit and oak sweetness--there's a violetty brightness to this--but it winks confidently at spicy-savouriness too. Complete red wine.--Campbell Mattinson

93 points,

Wine Spectator, June 2012

This harmonious, smooth red delivers wonderful boysenberry, cranberry sauce, cocoa and candied violet notes that have wonderful traction, with velvety tannins and exotic spices leading to notes of incense that crescendo on the finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2020. -MW

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