"Lush dark fruits"
Gold: Tri Nations Wine Challenge 2009
Trophy: Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
"Aromas of red and black plums, rich fruitcake and floral violet. Careful blending with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc has introduced some complexing lifted red-liquorice notes. Lush dark fruits, creamy supportive oak and integrated tannins on the palate."
The fruit for this wine was grown entirely on the gravely soils of the Gimblett Gravels growing region in Hawkes Bay. This unique area is recognised for producing consistently high coloured and full flavoured Merlot wines. The Villa Maria Vineyards Ngakirikiri, Twyford Gravels and Omahu Gravels all contributed parcels of fruit, each with their own unique characteristics. The free draining soils of these vineyards helped ensure balanced fruit and canopy growth ideal for ripe fruit flavour and tannin development. Yields were cropped at 1.75kg/vine producing fruit that was richly concentrated and ripe in flavour.