"Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry and plum mingle with a hint of redcurrant"
gold medal: Royal New Zealand Easter Show
"Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry and plum mingle with a hint of redcurrant. Savoury mushroom and toasty oak characters complete the attractive nose. Classic black cherry notes dominate the palate and are supported by hints of bramble, reflecting the aromatics. Structurally the tannins are soft and silky and well balanced acidity ensures good length and weight." - Winemakers Notes
Sourced from well tended, low yielding vineyards in the Upper Wairau and Blind River regions, the fruit was picked at optimum ripeness and carefully transported to the winery for de-stemming and chilling. Each batch of fruit was kept separate in small open top fermenters and cold soaked to extract maximum flavor and colour stability. The wine was fermented using a mixture of selected yeast strains and hand plunged up to 6 times daily. After fermentation several batches were put to a mixture of new and older French oak barrels. The remaining batches were aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the delicate fruit characters. Each batch went through malolactic fermentation and was aged on lees before being blended, stabilized, lightly egg white fined and prepared for bottling.