Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2006
| Vintage: 2006 Awards: 5 Stars - Michael Coopers Wine Buyers Guide 2008 - Best Buy of the Year and Best Red Wine Buy of the Year 2007 GOLD and TROPHY - Bragato Wine Awards 2007 4½ STARS - Wine Orbit August 2007 Tasting Note: This classic blend from the renowned Gimblett Gravels (Mere Road and Plateau vineyards) of Hawkes Bay is comprised of 65% Cabernet and 35% Merlot, and follows in the same viticultural and winemaking footsteps as the hugely successful five-star 2005 vintage. The grapes were harvested at ideal ripeness in several parcels, earlier-ripening Merlot at 24.9 brix on 13th April and later-ripening Cabernet at 24.4 brix on 26th April. The grapes were crushed then fermented on their skins in small batch open-top fermenters and plunged twice daily for colour, flavour and tannin extraction. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 12 months in new and 1 year old quality French oak barriques. Bottling took place on 3rd of July 2007 under screwcap. This deeply coloured elegant red exudes intense blueberry and blackcurrant aromas layered with spicy cedary oak and perfumed violets. The palate is deliciously rich and silky with concentrated blackcurrant, blackcherry and blueberry flavours complemented with smooth spicy oak, cigar box and leather notes, resting on a backbone of ripe supple tannins. The length is long and lingers to a soft dry, fruity finish. This wine is immensely enjoyable now, but will also reward cellaring for up to 5 years. |