Tasting Note
AromaA beguiling, aromatic intricacy with a core of sustained, poised, ripe fruit on the palate. Chocolatey merlot, and sumptuous raspberry and blackberry notes from cabernet franc give a supple weight to the wine.
ClosureScrewcap
GrapeMerlot, Cabernet
Grape Variety52% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon, 16% cabernet franc, 4% petit verdot
Maturation
Oaked0
PalateThe tapenade and dried herb of cabernet deepen the savoury appeal and varietal expression. Artfully crafted, graceful and svelte, Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’15 is a deceptively elegant wine.
VarietalV_MERLOTBLEND
VinificationThe individual parcels of each variety, from each plot, were de-stemmed before a traditional warm fermentation, followed by extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were pressed, returned to tank for malolactic fermentation, then run off to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 8 months’ maturation before blending. The wines were regularly topped and racked, throughout maturation, blended and traditionally egg-white fined before bottling.
RegionHawkes Bay - New Zealand
Region CodeINZAHAWKES
Region Notes
State
Subregion
WinemakerPeter Cowley
Wine StyleRed (Full Bodied)
Sam Kim
0
91
2017/04/12
Wine Orbit, March 2017
Dark plum, blueberry, toasted almond
and clove characters with a touch of
dried herb complexity. Excellent fruit
vibrancy combined with delicate oak
infusion, wonderfully structured by
polished tannins.
Beautifully fruited
and fragrant.
Michael Cooper
4
0
2018/02/26
New Zealand Listener, 27 February 2018
For a winery best known for its blends of merlot and the two Cabernet's - Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc - this is the ideal introduction. Fragrant and full-bodied, with good depth of vibrant, plummy, berryish flavours, savoury notes adding complexity and a well-rounded finish, it's already drinking well.
Gary Walsh
0
92
2017/03/03
03 March 2017
Mulberry, raspberry and blackberry, a crack of pepper and spice, chocolate and liquorice, dusty herbal perfume and twiggy woody stuff. Medium bodied, quite dense and flavoursome, that liquorice/aniseed thing a positive influence, crisp acidity, a run of dusty, almost peppery tannin, and a juicy mixed berry and tobacco laced finish of fine length. This is a great bottle of wine for the money. It has character, and no shortage of interest. Also, it’s lovely to drink.
Gary Walsh
0
92
2017/03/03
03 March 2017
Mulberry, raspberry and blackberry, a crack of pepper and spice, chocolate and liquorice, dusty herbal perfume and twiggy woody stuff. Medium bodied, quite dense and flavoursome, that liquorice/aniseed thing a positive influence, crisp acidity, a run of dusty, almost peppery tannin, and a juicy mixed berry and tobacco laced finish of fine length. This is a great bottle of wine for the money. It has character, and no shortage of interest. Also, it’s lovely to drink.
