We are absolutely thrilled that our Blank Canvas Element Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2019 was selected in influential European wine publication La Revue du Vin de France's blind tasting to determine ‘The 60 Best Syrahs in the World.'

Published this month, the tasting highlighted the Blank Canvas Syrah as “standing out for its tactile elegance, its aromatic charm and the finesse of its tannins. Despite producing just 0.24% of the world’s 185,000 hectares of Syrah, the tasting demonstrated that New Zealand can contend with the superstars of France’s Rhône Valley. 

The wine review placed Blank Canvas Element Vineyard Syrah as the one of the top Syrahs from New Zealand, sharing the equal highest score (93 points) with Fromm Syrah from Marlborough. In addition, the La Revue du Vin de France, which is one of the most influential wine publications in Europe, chose to feature Blank Canvas winery within the wider article.

Master of Wine Jeremy Cukierman, who judged alongside six other panellists including top French sommeliers and wine journalists, further expressed that the Syrah from Blank Canvas was “a floral, elegant, fine and dynamic wine… fresh, sapid Syrah with a Rhône accent, created by these two lovers of Côte-Rôtie wines.”

It is no secret that we adore the wines of the Northern Rhône, especially Côte-Rôtie , which is why the recognition of our single vineyard Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels is so meaningful. Since our first Syrah vintage in 2014, we have conveyed how we believe the Gimblett Gravels and Hawke’s Bay is the ideal place to grow and produce genuinely cool-climate, elegant and aromatic Syrah that echoes this variety’s spiritual homeland.

Having our bottle grace the cover of La Revue alongside the most revered and expensive Syrahs of the world is a truly incredible feeling. These are the very wines that have inspired us. Some of the bottles in this tasting are €300+, but Northern Rhône Syrah is still the bargain of the wine world commanding only a fraction of the thousands of dollars a bottle comparative quality Burgundy wines sell for. I think we’ll see that change in coming years as more consumers realise the sensory pleasure and cerebral experience top cool climate syrah can offer.  

We are very excited that the potential of New Zealand Syrah has been identified by none other than La Revue. New Zealand is still on a journey with Syrah and while we certainly haven’t arrived at our full potential, we’re on an exciting trajectory.

The full article including all 60 reviews feature in the January 2024 edition of La Revue du Vin de France.