£13.50, The Wine Society
According to John Hancock of Trinity Hill winery, the world isn't beating a path to Hawkes Bay Syrah's. door. High time it did in my view. The style overall owes much to northern Rhône styles, but with prettier, more supple fruit, especially in the entry-level wines. This one, which includes a small amount of Viognier, is made to show off the perfumed purity, juicy plum and blueberry fruit and savoury, peppery spice of the Syrah grape. I love the way there's so much to it but all packed into a medium-bodied frame with only 12.2% alcohol (rounded up to 12.5% on the label). It's designed to be drunk young, but you could drink it any time over the next three years, as long as you keep it at a steady cool temperature and protected from bright light. It's screw-capped, so it'll barely change in that time, provided you don't bash the cap and damage the seal. You can drink it on its own or with simple pasta dishes, but it's well up to red meat, poultry and vegetarian main courses too.
Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Syrah 2016, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
£13.50, The Wine Society; £13.29, Rannoch Scott Wines; £13.95, winedirect.co.uk; £14.70, Exel Wines; £18.80, The New Zealand Cellar