Clayvin

Clayvin Syrah

Discover our finest wines from the iconic, certified organic Clayvin Vineyard, one of Marlborough’s most celebrated sites, renowned worldwide for its pure expression of terroir. Intensely coloured and richly aromatic, with power, structure and a refined edge. A premium Clayvin Syrah shaped by Marlborough’s Southern Valleys.

Clayvin Vineyard in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys was planted in 1993 and is organically farmed. High-density planting reduces vine vigour and promotes deep root systems, producing concentrated fruit with natural structure and minerality. The fragile clay soils vary across the vineyard and offer strong water retention, while fractured layers allow roots to move deep into cooler subsoils.

The 2023/24 season followed an El Niño pattern with dry, warm days. A very wet winter helped build soil moisture reserves ahead of the dry months. Early-season frosts and unsettled flowering reduced yields in the Syrah block, concentrating the fruit. Warm, dry summer conditions supported steady ripening, and a near-perfect autumn delivered extended hang time for tannin maturity and aromatic development.

The result is a small but exceptional crop of Syrah, capturing both the power and elegance the Clayvin site is known for.

The focus was on minimal handling. Fruit was hand-harvested and hand-sorted, followed by a gentle three-day cold soak.Fermentation was carried out with indigenous yeasts over 10 days, with temperature peaking at 29°C. The wine remained on skins for a total of 21 days, with gentle hand plunging. A further 15-day post-ferment maceration supported tannin polymerisation and structural refinement.

The wine was matured for 13 months in 100% French oak 300L hogsheads, with 27% new oak, building depth and integration while preserving Clayvin’s vineyard character.

Awards

2023

2021

2023

2021

2019

2016

2012

2011

Reviews

Decanter World Wine Awards

"A delightful ripe primary fruit nose includes balsamic notes and blackberries. The gorgeous, complex palate consists of perfectly weighted blackcurrant notes, structured tannins and an umami richness coming through on the very long finish."

Michael CooperWinestate New Zealand

"Who says you can’t grow great syrah in Marlborough? This very classy red is boldly coloured, with a fragrant, spicy bouquet. Still very youthful, it has concentrated plum, spice and black pepper flavours, seasoned with oak, a hint of liquorice, impressive complexity and a well-structured, lasting finish."

Sam KimWine Orbit

"This is stunningly beautiful and exquisitely refined, showing Black Doris plum, dark cherry, game, almond and violet aromas on the nose, leading to a superbly concentrated palate exhibiting outstanding fruit purity and poise. It's silky, flowing and seamless with layers of complex flavours backed by fine tannins, ensuring its graceful development."

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