When I first developed an interest in wine I couldn’t help but think how cool it would be to know a winemaker, the logic being that they must have a constant supply of wine available to them, and that alone impressed me. Shallow, but true.

Now I know many, many winemakers and my perspective has changed. I see passionate, dedicated, hardworking and creative individuals, the most talented of whom are capable of creating wine that deserves not just to be drunk, but to be celebrated. It should come as no surprise that Trinity Hill’s Warren Gibson is one such winemaker.

I first met Warren some years ago and it’s hard not to be impressed by someone with as much experience as he. In addition to being Trinity Hill’s chief winemaker, Warren is consultant winemaker for Northland’s The Landing and makes wine alongside his equally talented partner Lorraine Leheny for their boutique brand Bilancia.

Warren is widely acknowledged and respected as one of New Zealand’s finest winemakers with a specific talent for understanding terroir and finding the way to transport that sense of place into the bottle.

And transport he does with this wine: the mere crack of the cap unleashes a festival for the senses. Medium coloured with a dark core visible, this syrah has florals matched with dark forest fruits, blueberries and spices on the nose. These characters are mirrored on the fresh yet luscious and juicy palate with great structure, bold tannins and fantastic drive. A sleek and serious syrah.