The 2007 vintage in Hawkes Bay produced rich merlot and
cabernet blends with dark fruit aromas and firm tannins, some
of which are now appearing on wine-shop shelves.
Many will continue to develop over a few more years.
BEST VALUE
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec 2008.
$23.
A young wine with oodles of fruit , hints of chocolate and
spicy oak.
This is a powerful wine with still tight tannins, that will
harmonise with another year's bottle age.
Average Value
3 stars (out of 5)
www.eskvalley.co.nz
Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
2007
$26
Hints of mint and blackcurrant with ripe, peppery fruit, a
crisp lively wine without pretensions, but with a nice
aftertaste.
Good value when discounted.
Average value
3 stars (out of 5)
www.churchroad.co.nz
Sacred Hill Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2009
$21
Younger than the others in this tasting, this is a brash,
in-your-face, attention-grabbing wine, bright purple in
colour, with peppery, raw fruit aromas, concentrated flavours
hinting of cherries and boysenberries, and dry, grippy
tannins.
Give it another year or so in the bottle or decant it before
serving to soften.
Average value
3 stars (out of 5)
www.sacredhill.com
Cottage Block Hawkes Bay Cabernet Merlot
2007
$36
Fragrant with hints of blackcurrants, nice velvety fruit
hinting of plums and berries with nicely balanced spicy oak
in the background and firm, fine-grained tannins. Stylish.
Good value
4 stars (out of 5)
www.corbans.co.nz
Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2007
$40
A classy wine from the Gimblett Gravels, this is dense with
blackcurrants, plums, prunes and figs, a hint of chocolate
and spice, well-supported by oak, and dusty tannins on the
finish.
Worth cellaring for another year or two but very drinkable
now.
Average value
4 stars (out of 5)
www.millsreef.co.nz
Alpha Domus Hawkes Bay The Aviator 2007
$49
A classic Hawkes Bay Bordeaux blend, fragrant with black
plums and blackcurrants, with chocolate, spice and oak in the
background, but it's the balance, the firm structure and
bright finish that make this stand out from the others.
It will develop with several more years in the bottle.
Good value
5 stars (out of 5)
www.alphadomus.co.nz
ANOTHER GLASS
Mills Reef Hawkes Bay Reserve Merlot Malbec
2008
$25
Soft, sweet berry fruit with oak underneath and a crisp
finish.
Below-average value
2½ stars (out of five)
www.millsreef.co.nz
Frizzell Hawkes Bay Merlot 2007
$22
With a label by artist Dick Frizzell, this wine is attractive
initially with oodles of soft, sweet fruit, hints of coffee,
spice and a volatile lift, but short on the finish.
Below-average value
2 stars (out of five)
www.frizzellwines.co.nz
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot
2007
$40
Mills Reef produces several fine reds under their Elspeth
label, all varying blends of cabernet sauvignon, merlot,
malbec and cabernet franc. This lively wine hints of red
berries, blackcurrants, chocolate and spicy oak with a
backbone of firm tannins, and an attractive aftertaste.
Like other Hawkes Bay reds from this vintage, it will develop
with cellaring for a year or five.
Average value
4 stars (out of five)
www.millsreef.co.nz
Paritua Hawkes Bay 21.12 2007
$52
This impressive wine in a heavy bottle has attractive aromas
hinting of sweet plums and spicy fruitcake, densely flavoured
with dark fruit, malt extract and spicy oak, and firm,
fine-grained tannins.
Well structured. balanced and concentrated, it, too, will
develop with some bottle age.
Average value
4½ stars (out of five)
www.paritura.com
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate
preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is
subjective. These are personal recommendations.
charmian.smith@odt.co.nz
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