From the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawke’s Bay, and a delicious twenty years of gentle cellaring and ageing. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah; showing a dense ruby, carmine, claret colour in the glass. Nice ‘right-bank, old-school’ stylings, with the Syrah adding a lighter, brighter crunch to the mix. Not massive on the nose, but with precise, elegant notes of cassis, doris plum, bramble and violets. Excellent concentration still evident – bruising and robust into the palate, with a savoury top note of leather, mushroom and soy. Well balanced and with a velveteen texture – the wine evolving in the glass, and starting to show a bit more age and tertiary character as the evening rolled on. 94pts
Unison Selection 2002
