{"product_id":"cuvar-guardians-cornerstone-vineyard-gimblett-gravels-cabernet-merlot-malbec-2023","title":"Čuvar Guardians Cornerstone Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003eIt's splendidly fruited and enticing on the nose, showing blackcurrant, bouquet garni, cured meat, violet, and cedar characters. The palate displays excellent weight and a plump mouthfeel, splendidly framed by refined texture and layers of chalky tannins, finishing with a great line and length. At its best: now to 2033\" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Deep ruby-red, even colour throughout. The nose is gently full, with aromas of blackcurrant, plum, herbs, cedar and subtle spices. Medium-full bodied, aromas of blackcurrant, plum, and black raspberry, entwined with cedar, cigar leaf, clove and cocoa. The fruit shows purity with excellent flavour and acid balance. Velvety tannins provide structure and linger with rich, dark, stony minerals, lending a broody, enticing finish. An elegant, well-structured, harmonious red blend\" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Nov 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"An excellent wine with a frame of dark berries, violets and ripe Doris plums. Flavours expand on the palate as the wine begins to open out with chocolate and new leather, boysenberry then black currant and baking spices. Complex, new, dry and full-bodied. A lovely concentration and power, a firm squeeze on the palate with a backbone of acidity and smoky wood tones. The baking spices and wood flavours layer in complexity and length. Youthful and still developing with best drinking from 2029 through 2035\" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeep ruby red with a vibrant purple hue, the bouquet opens with rich aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, complemented by notes of dark chocolate and hints of cedar from oak ageing. There is a touch of dried herbs and a whisper of tobacco adding complexity. The palate is full-bodied and structured with velvety tannins and flavours of ripe black fruits interwoven with layers of spice reminiscent of cinnamon and fruit cake. The oak influence is evident but well-integrated, providing a luxurious mouthfeel and contributed to flavours of toasted oak and espresso. The finish is long and lingering, with a harmonious balance between fruit, oak and savoury elements that leave a lasting impression.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCornerstone vineyard is planted in the famous Gimblett Gravels appellation. The canopy was kept open to ensure airflow around the bunches which kept them clean and open to sunlight. This meant that the fruit was picked at the exact time we needed to make the wine, rather than being dictated by the weather.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2023 was a bitter sweet vintage for the Hawke's Bay but luckily our Cornerstone vineyard weathered the cyclone with aplomb and produced some of the most intense fruit of the season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e100% hand picked. Destemmed and fermented in small open fermenters. Plunged daily and when necessary the wines were racked and returned to aid gentle tannin extraction and cooling of the ferment. 50% of the wine was inoculated while the remainder of the fruit we allowed to start naturally – the later adding depth while the former adds fruit spectrum. 100% oak matured in 50% new French barrique with the odd Hogshead (300 Litre barrel) and seasoned oak for a total of 18 months. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally during the spring months of 2023.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mineral","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51845640782141,"sku":null,"price":299.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/9211\/5773\/files\/CuvarGuardiansCornerstoneVineyardGimblettGravelsCabernetMerlotMalbecNV.jpg?v=1781654524","url":"https:\/\/www.blackmarket.co.nz\/products\/cuvar-guardians-cornerstone-vineyard-gimblett-gravels-cabernet-merlot-malbec-2023","provider":"Black Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}