Reserve Merlot Malbec 2007Vintage: 2007 Varieties: Merlot, Malbec Area: Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay Winemaker: Tim Preston & Paddy Preston Alcohol: 14% Awards: GOLD - Romeo Bragato Wine Awards 2008 Tasting Notes: The grapes for this fine wine were grown in our warm inland Mere Road vineyard on the stony Gimblett Gravels soils of Hawkes Bay. The two varieties comprising this fine blend, Merlot and Malbec, were harvested separately on 16 April at 24.7 brix and 13 April at 23 brix respectively, with optimal ripeness and flavour profile. The grapes were destemmed, cold soaked for four days and then fermentated in stainless steel tanks, with twice daily pump overs to extract colour and flavour. The resulting wines were aged separately for 7 months in quality oak barrels:
The parcels were then carefully blended (55% Merlot, 45% Malbec) to achieve a seamless style with optimal aroma and palate expression. Bottling followed under screwcap on the 2nd of April 2008. This deeply coloured red has lovely fruit-driven aromas and flavours with a medley of ripe Black Dorris plums, boysenberry and blackcurrant, intertwined with spicy savoury oak, fine tannins, all beautifully integrating for a lovely lush medium weight wine with silken texture. Very enjoyable now, this wine will continue to develop and reward with cellaring for 3 to 5 years. |
2007
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