2007

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Mills Reef Winery Producers of distinctive wines

 

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Reserve Merlot 2007

 

Vintage :        2007

Varieties:            Merlot

Area:                 Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay

Winemaker:        Paddy Preston and Tim Preston

Alcohol:             14%

Awards:            SILVER - Romeo Bragato Wine Awards 2008

                         GOLD - New World Wine Awards 2008

Tasting Note:       The grapes for this distinguished wine were grown in the stony soils of our Mere Road vineyard, in the renowned Gimblett Gravels of Hawkes Bay, from two superior Merlot clones of Erindale and 2096 grafted onto low vigour rootstocks. 

They were picked at ideal ripeness on April 16th at an average 24.7 brix, cold-soaked for four days, then fermented in stainless steel tanks and pumped over twice daily for colour and flavour extraction.  The resulting wine was aged for 7 months in quality oak barrels (50% French & 50% American) of which 28% was new and 72% one year old wood.  Bottling took place under screwcap on 18th March 2008.

This deep-purple red exudes aromas of ripe blackcurrant, plum, leather, cigar box and vanilla.  The palate is rich and complex with a milieu of plum, black cherry, black olive, liquorice, leather and cigar box flavours, on firm yet supple tannins with a sustained satisfying finish.

It is approachable now and will continue to reward with cellaring for 3 to 5 years.