Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Le Phant Rouge 2023

Description

Chocolate, Oak, Smoke

"Immediately enticing bouquet and palate filled with flavours of spicy plum skin and flesh, black berry and some black currant, there’s a layer of cocoa and baking spices reflecting some oak and toasty barrel. Polished tannins and acidity frame the core fruit and spice flavours perfectly. Balanced, well made and ready from early 2025 through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2024

"Delightfully fruited and inviting, the wine shows sweet cherry, dark plum, rich floral, clove and roasted nut aromas on the nose, followed by a silky-smooth palate delivering plump mouthfeel combined with silky texture and polished tannins. Attractively composed with a lengthy, elegant finish. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2024

It is a medium-bodied Merlot dominant blend displaying cassis, plum and red cherry characters with a succulent texture and great finish. Savoury bouquet and palate with smokey oak, rosemary and star anise with soft undertones of leather. Very soft but warming white pepper notes that warm and compliment the silky tannin to complete a rounded mouth feel.

The Le Phant Rouge is a Hawke’s Bay red blend made up of Merlot 50%, Malbec 25%, Syrah 23% and Cabernet Sauvignon 2%, sourced from their Bridge Pa Triangle 84%, Gimblett Gravels 10% and Te Awanga 6% vineyards.

Established in 2003, Elephant Hill is located within a stone’s throw of the Pacific Ocean on the idyllic Te Awanga coast of Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island. The winemaking at Elephant Hill is driven by tradition while not losing sight of what innovation can bring to the blend. Their aim is to make wines that are balanced, elegant and a true expression of the vineyards they come from.