St Jerome ‘Matuka’ Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009
From company vineyards in the Henderson hills of west Auckland, a blend of approx 60/40 Cabernet to Merlot. Cedar and a funkiness of warm earthy leaves comes on the nose, along with a herbal pepperiness. An inky blackness to the glass with purple hues, with the slightest browning off from the bottle age . First flavours of savoury edge and a definite liquorice sweetness come through, with the ripe fruit tricky to define. Plum, and blackcurrant definitely, but also a floral rose and a citrus tang arrive as well. The musky tannins and luscious French oak (2 years in barrel) give a solid depth and structure to this complex Bordeaux style wine. A mellow and well-rounded finish. Drunk at 10 years old, this is still a delicious and mouth-filling wine that is a superb match to mid-winter stews and roasted meats.
Mission Estate Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards in the prestigious Gimblett Gravels, and with a touch of Mere Road Merlot in the blend, this is another great value wine for the price – made in the same style as wines 2 to 3 times the price. Aromas of cedar with some dried herb balance the distinct cassis overtones on the nose. A dark plum colour in the glass, it then reveals more plum flavour into the palate of spice and blackcurrant. A medium-body with firm tannins and a leathery oak influence from the French barriques, 25% new, used to mature the wine. A mineral, earthy note ends the wine, heading into a soft chocolatey finish. A balanced and well-structured red from one of NZ’s best appelations and makers – excellent value.
Selaks Founders Ltd Edition Chardonnay 2018
A Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, replacing the previous Founders Reserve? A bright and light gold colour in the glass. Good width on the nose, with notes of toast and nutty-oat biscuit. Creamy barrel ferment flavours in the mid-weight palate, mingles with the smokey and slightly buttery oak influence. With ripe peach and grapefruit with a slight spiciness to the fore, this has nice complexity and tends towards a powerful and well-rounded finish.
Summerhouse Merlot 2016
From Hawke’s Bay, 2016 brings another reasonably-priced Merlot. It’s a very deep red in the glass, with flashes of purple to the edges. Scents of boysenberry, plum and bonfire come together and the fruit is plump and juicy and just a hint of green stalkiness is present too. Slightly savoury and benefitting from a splash of dark chocolate to balance out the silky texture mid-palate. Smooth but tense tannins carry through to an elegant velvety finish.
Decibel Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2017
A single vineyard, single varietal wine from the Gimblett Gravels of Hawke’s Bay. An inky dark black-red in the glass, with a light nose of slightly floral brambles with hints of green capsicum. Mouthfilling layers of berry, currants and violet swarm into the first tastes, followed by woody herbs, then the grippy drying tannins edge out the palate with a nuance of sweet nutty oak. A gutsy well-bodied wine that walks an interesting and complex, even contrasting, tightrope of flavours.
Alpha Domus ‘The Ace’ Syrah 2018
A deep youthful ruby red colour in the glass, it exhibits the classic peppery, liquorice scents of a good Hawke’s Bay Syrah (this one from the Bridge Pa area). Delivering bags of lively blackberry, plum and soft spices underpinned by the that varietal black pepper note. It’s a smooth mid-bodied palate with layers of finely integrated oak laid upon the backbone of gentle tannins. A chocolatey smooth and lingering finish completes a young but already quite very stylish wine.
