Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Description

• French oak
• Dark red fruit
• Well balanced
• Refreshing acidity

Aromas of dark red fruits and fragrant oak combine on the palate showing a depth of flavour, texture and balance. Fruit for this wine was grown in the acclaimed Gimblett Gravels vineyards. Naturally, free draining and low vigour soils, meticulous vineyard management and the season has produced a wine showing character, depth and clarity of flavour with fine structure. Low yielding vines and “green harvesting” helped to produce fruit with good concentration and richness that is balanced with natural acidity keeping the wine fresh.

Individual vineyard parcels were harvested, destemmed, lightly crushed and fermented in small batches. During ferment, the batches were gently hand plunged and pumped over the skins to extract desirable tannin, flavour and colour. The wines were then pressed off and run to French oak barrels where they completed malolactic fermentation. After maturing in barrel for 18 months (15% new), the batches were lightly fined, naturally settled, blended and gently filtered before bottling.

Food Pairing: Lamb, beef and hard cheeses.