58% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc grown within the prestigious Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawkes Bay.
Individual vineyard parcels were destemmed to fermenters and inoculated with selected yeast strains. Once active, the ferments were hand plunged to gently extract tannin and colour from the skins. After a period of maceration on skins, the new wines were pressed to barrel and tank for malolactic fermentation, then aged separately in French oak barriques (15% new) for 12 months.
Winemaker's Comments
This is a full-bodied and rich Gimblett Gravels blend. Densely coloured, it has a bouquet of blackberry and cherry with subtle oak seasoning, while the palate is softly textured and generous in nature. Due to its ripened tannins, the wine can be enjoyed young but will gain further complexity with age.
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