What the winery says about the Man O'War Dreadnought Syrah 2009 . . . . 

Classical in style the 2009 Dreadnought shows the lifted aromas of speck and peat typical of Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah and showcases the riper fruit spectrum of the variety with overt blue berries and black pepper notes. The palate is elegant with supple fruit, vibrant acidity and a large presence of fine grained tannins emulating the structure of classical Northern Rhone. Stylish, finely balanced and rewarding in its youth we see the 2009 Dreadnought developing gracefully in age as the fine boned structure becomes more apparent and great complexity ensues.

Fine-boned, perfumed Syrah in an elegant rather than blockbuster (as expected) style. Red fruits, floral and white/black pepper. Fine-grained backbone with a pleasantly drying finish. Good cellaring potential at least for the mid-term but very approachable now. This is a very serious Syrah indeed. Bob Campbell MW.