Click for larger image | Vintage: 2004
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
Area: Hawkes Bay
Winemaker: Paddy Preston and Tim Preston
Alcohol %: 14 Awards: 5 STARS Michael Cooper's 2006 Wine Buyers Guide Tasting Note: This distinguished Hawkes Bay red is made from close-planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines at Mills Reef's own Mere Road Vineyard, situated in the heart of the famous Gimblett Gravels district in Hawkes Bay.
The weather pattern for 2004 vintage was characterised by ideal long warm dry weather throughout the season. The sensational late summer, March through May, gave us a long ripening period which produced grapes with layers of ripe intense flavours.
The grapes were all hand-harvested, destemmed and equal portions fermented in stainless steel vats and French oak barrels. The wine was then blended and aged in French oak barriques for 18 months and bottled on the 20th of October 2005.
This classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is deliciously dark and concentrated, it offers a beautiful fragrant, spicy bouquet with rich, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours in a mouthfilling, complex style on a backbone of fine-grained tannins. The finish is spicy, long and lingering. Delicious now, it will continue to flourish with cellaring. |