Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2020

Description

Blackberry, Oak, Spice

A rich full bodied wine, this traditional blend exudes intense blackcurrant, blackberry and plum flavours, layered with mocha, cassis and spicy cedary oak. Ageing in quality oak has conferred a velvety smooth texture, providing the blend with great structure and length.

The grapes for this generous wine were exclusively sourced from low yielding vines from the prestigious Gimblett Gravels region in Hawke's Bay. The 2020 growing season experienced ideal weather conditions, consistently warm days over an extended Summer and Autumn allowed for perfect ripening conditions for harvesting in excellent condition.

Separate parcels of Cabernet and Merlot were then gently crushed, whilst also allowing some whole berries to remain intact. The must was transferred into open-top stainless steel tanks for a cold soak of an average three days duration. Fermentation was then initiated, followed by daily rummaging for colour, flavour and fine tannin extraction. The resulting wine was then aged for 18 months in quality French oak hogsheads (35% being new wood), with one racking during élevage.

The final blend was composed, comprising 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, from a rigorous barrel selection. Judged to have already attained perfect harmony, to only require a light fining, the wine was gently filtered to preserve the wines full natural complexity, structure and flavour profile. Bottling took place on 18th January 2022 under screwcap closure.

Food Pairing: Well matched with BBQ Moroccan Lamb loin and Tabbouleh salad.