IODINE - I'LL HAVE A DOUBLE

Iodine is a chemical and its compounds are used in photography, medicine and in manufacturing. It is very rare but is also very soluble. This is why we hear of it being prevalent in seawater and concentrated in seaweed. A good Islay or other West Coast Island Malt Whisky wouldn't be the same without a whiff of seaweed (read Iodide).
When it comes to wine things become a bit diffuse. One man's iodine is another's cloves, or elastaplast, or sweaty socks (don't ask - wine appreciation requires passion not dispassionate chemical analysis). Iodine is often referred to in respect to Rhone Valley red wines - specifically Syrah-based wines. Why? Who knows?. How close is Rhone Valley to the sea? (look it up). When it comes to the influence in Island Malts it is easy. The barley is smoked and the source of the smoke is peat fires. In the Western Islands (of Scotland obviously) the peat is heavily saturated with seaweed. In the Highlands ( Scotland again, not  Papua New Guinea or USA) the peat is impregnated with heather so has a rich honey character. In New Zealand, Syrah is said to have more French characteristics than Australian. Why? Who knows. (Richard says who cares). Last night I went to a wine-tasting of Waiheke Island wines. There was a mixed-bag of wines with Viognier, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and blends making their mark. There were some big names here too (and some correspondingly big prices). The standout wine (to me and others) was Man 'O' War Dreadnought Syrah 2008 ($38). This is a sweet, rich, young and nicely wooded wine. It has some vibrant, youthful edges that will be knocked off with time ( a year?) and will come out as a masterpiece. Iodine? Yes. There is a hard, medicinal edge to the wine  that may well put some people off. I put it down to youth. Tonight I opened a 2007 version of the same wine as I wanted  to see if there were any similar characteristics. There are. Terroir rules! The 2007 is rich, very alive with a long flavour. The extra year has given it a silky texture. Lurking underneath though is - iodine. Why? Is this a Rhone characteristic? I don't know - I'll leave it to the viticulturists. What I do know though is that the vineyard where Man 'O' War Dreadnought Syrah is sourced from is at the Westernmost extremity of New Zealand being on one of the country's steepest vineyards sloping right down to the Pacific Ocean at the extreme edge of Waiheke Island. I appreciate the connection to France and the Rhone Valley with this Syrah but I prefer to think of the wonderful iodine character which gives it individuality as being more akin to those fabulous malt whiskies of Western Scotland.