Monowai Upper Reaches Hawke's Bay Merlot 2021

Description

• French oak
• Ripe plum
• Vanilla
• Chalky tannins

This Merlot is dark and brooding, richly perfumed with ripe plum, vanilla and toasty oak aromas. Fresh bramble fruits dominate on the palate and the chalky tannins are balanced by a fresh acid backbone, giving a wine which is velvety, inviting and full bodied.

The grapes for this extra special wine come from 18-year-old vines from our block closest to the mighty Ngaruroro river. The vines were specially managed to keep yields low and we let the fruit hang out a little while longer than our Estate Merlot to maximise the flavour profile. Once picked, the wine was fermented in open top tanks and hand plunged twice daily before being aged for 15 months in a blend of 1 and 2-year-old French oak barrels.

Food Pairing: Rib eye steak and thick cut chips, Aged Cheddar and Gouda, Venison burgers.