Grown on a steep, terraced, north-facing hillside at Bay View, in Hawke's Bay, this is typically a strikingly bold, dark wine with bottomless depth of blackcurrant, plum and strongly spicy flavour. Malbec (43 per cent of the vines) and Merlot (35 per cent) are the major ingredients, supplemented by Cabernet Franc; the Malbec gives 'perfume, spice, tannin and brilliant colour'. Yields in the 1-hectare vineyard are very low, and the wine is matured for 17 to 22 months in French oak barriques (55 per cent new in 2018). 'En primeur' (payment at a reduced price, in advance of delivery) has been the best way to buy. It typically matures well, developing a beautiful fragrance and spicy, Rhône-like complexity. The 2018 vintage (5*) is a deeply coloured blend of Malbec (43 per cent), Merlot (38 per cent) and Cabernet Franc (19 per cent). Fragrant, with a spicy bouquet, it is powerful but refined, with concentrated, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, that build to a supple, very harmonious, lasting finish.
Details
Type: Red Wines
Variety: Branded and Other Red Wines
Vintage: 2018
Overall Rating for All Vintages Tasted: ★★★★★ – 5 Stars
Price: $160 NZD
Sweetness: DRY
Value for Money: AV
Buyer’s Guide Edition: 2021
This wine is a Super Classic.