A Hawke’s Bay wine, with 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot making up a classic ‘Left Bank’ Bordeaux blend. ’91 is obviously some years ago, but allowing for the bottle being well-cellared, you could certainly expect to see some evidence of age to the wine. Colour is a deep garnet burgundy, with copper-orange edges. The bouquet has that forest floor, decaying leaf, scent that shows the three decades of age; but the bramble, blackcurrant, black pepper, clove, plum and graphite characters of the two varieties are still juicy and bright. Tannin is softy muted, and the acidity is also well-integrated, so that texture and the plush mouthfeel is the main anchor of the palate. Soft and sweetly spicy, into a dry finish with mid-length. 90pts
Vidal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1991
