Click for larger image | Vintage: 2006
Varieties: Malbec
Area: Hawkes Bay
Winemaker: Paddy Preston and Tim Preston
Alcohol %: 14.0 Tasting Note: The grapes for this fine wine were grown on the stony free-draining soils of our Mere Road Vineyard in the renowned Gimblett Gravels of Hawkes Bay.
They were harvested at ideal ripeness and flavour profile at 23.8 Brix on the 9th of April. On receival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed, crushed and cold soaked for three days prior to fermentation in open-top fermenters, with plunging of the cap twice daily to maximize colour and flavour extraction. Total time on skins 11 days.
The wine was then aged for 15 months in new and 1 year old quality French oak barriques and bottled on the 31st of August 2007.
This mouthfilling wine is deep black-purple in colour, with complex aromas of violets, plums, blackcurrant and blackberries, lightly spiced with cedar, and hints of fruitcake. The palate is concentrated, rich and luscious, with lingering black plums and brambly blackberry flavours, supported by leather and cigar box notes. Silky smooth tannins and quality oak complete the profile of this already delicious, approachable and elegant wine.
It has richness and structure to mature gracefully for 3 to 5 years, but is already highly enjoyable.
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