"A gorgeous red, the seductive nose shows black/blueberry, dark plum, clove and cedar characters with nuances of cocoa and dried herbs. It is concentrated and richly fruited on the palate, and offers velvety texture and supple tannins. A delectable wine delivering loads of tasty flavours, and finishes superbly long and engaging. At its best: now to 2022." Sam Kim Wine Orbit

"Very full, dark, deep, purple-hued black-red colour with a lighter edge, youthful in appearance.  The nose is full, concentrated and intensely packed with layers of ripe black plums, blackberry fruit and liquorice, along with spices and cedary oak.  The aromatics are powerful and dense in expression.  Medium-full bodied, the palate is fulsome with rich filling flavours of ripe blackberries, black plums, spices and liquorice and cedary oak.  The fruit is framed by grainy tannins and the mouthfeel has plenty of grip and presence.  The rich, sweet fruit is enlivened by underlying lacy acidity and the wine leads to a strong, textured, black-fruited finish with spice and cedar notes.  This is a rich, mouthfilling, ripe, black-fruited Merlot blend with a robust structure.  Match with barbecued and roasted game meat and semi-hard cheeses over the next 6-8 years.  A blend of 82% Merlot. 14% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc from a Havelock North vineyard, the fruit hand-picked and fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 15 months in 65% new French oak." Raymond Chan

The nose is complex with spice and clove notes, the palate is fleshy and mouthfilling with attractive dark fruits, plum and cassis. Overall it has a minerality and fine supple structure that makes it a very interesting and compelling drink.

Three varieties (Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc) were hand harvested and fermented separately, to be blended later to showcase the site’s best attributes. The fruit was destemmed and lightly crushed into open top fermenters. Hand plunging and hot natural ferments have produced a wine of complex, intense aromatics and flavours and fine supple tannins.  The wine was aged in French oak for 15 months before blending allowing the wine to mature and the flavours and oak to further integrate.