Responsible Hedonist 'Rush The Stage' Red Hawke's Bay 2023 750ml

NEW ZEALAND : HAWKE'S BAY : BRIDGE PĀ TRIANGLE

ORGANIC : Syrah

LIGHT-BODIED, CHERRY, WILD STRAWBERRY, POMEGRANATE, CRUSHED ROCKS, NEUTRAL OAK

Diana Hawkins and Frank Lepera are two decorated sommeliers from Chicago who moved to Aotearoa, NZ in 2017 so Diana could pursue her Master's in winemaking. Having fallen in love with the country and its wine culture, they never left - and instead founded Responsible Hedonist with the intent to bypass snobby "gatekeepers" in the wine industry and craft exciting, unserious, and sustainably-minded wines for all types of consumers. Diana makes the wine; the company is Black woman co-owned, runs with no staff and makes fewer than 6,000 bottles a year.

'Rush the Stage Red' is a fresh, light-bodied syrah; perfect for outdoor barbeques and summer concerts. The 2023 is mass-selection Syrah from sandy loam over the Ngaruroro River's "red metal" gravels in the Bridge Pā Triangle, farmed organically and picked 9 April after a cool, wet, cyclone-marked season. Wild yeast, 13 days on skins, then 100% old French oak — bottled unfined, unfiltered and vegan friendly at 12% alcohol. 3,828 bottles made. Drink now through 2030.

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