The SOHO ‘Zabeel’ was first launched in 2015 with the 2013 vintage, a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 15% Malbec (click here to see my review). This was a beautifully elegant wine with succulently rich fruit and exotic oaking. The 2014 vintage ‘Zabeel’ was released in May this year, it being a blend of blend of 50% Merlot, 33% Syrah and 17% Malbec (click here for my review). This was a fulsome, black-fruited wine with complex earthiness, which I tongue-in-cheek compared it to ‘Grange’ in communication with Rachael Carter. Both wines have been of extremely high quality. The wines have been made by Janes Rowan and viticulturist Matt Sloane, who explain are slowly coming to a greater understanding of the vines, varieties and how they perform on the site.
The 2014 wine has sold very quickly, necessitating the release of the 2015 vintage ‘Zabeel’. James Rowan reports the "2015 Waiheke vintage was beautifully classic”. The Syrah variety has increasingly impressed Matt and James, so this is the predominant variety this year. Also in their approach was to make a wine with "a tad more elegance and precision, and layers”, so the finished blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec gave the aromatics and acidity that was desired. I review the wine here. www.sohowineco.com
