Some Hawkes Bay reds, variations on traditional Bordeaux blends such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and sometimes cabernet franc and malbec, can be superb, and good Hawkes Baysyrah has a wonderful purity of fruit along with a pepperiness and silkiness. But sometimes Australians can be better value.
BEST VALUE
$26
Four stars(out of five)
Good value
Slightly funky when first poured, this five year old Australian red is mature with dense, mellowed fruit, concentrated flavours, complex layers of spice, licorice and dark savoury notes, supple tannins and a nicely balanced finish.
$28.50
Three and a half stars
Average value
A youthful wine (86% merlot 21% cabernet sauvignon) with generous, dark spicy fruits, hints of chocolate, mint and dried herbs, and a firm, slightly edgy tannic backbone. Give it another couple of years to mellow and mature.
$32
Four stars
Average value
Dark and peppery with lovely purity of fruit hinting of plums, beetroot, dark chocolate, mint and spicy oak, this is mouth-filling with a silky texture overlying an exciting, lively, backbone and well balanced finish.
$42.50
Three and a half stars
Below average value
A brash, vigorous young wine, oozing hints of cinnamon, pepper, mineral and oak, with lively, silky fruit intertwined with firm, grippy tannins that assert themselves from first contact through to the long aftertaste.
$45
Four stars
Average value
A Hawkes Bay classic - blackcurrants, plums, silky, spicy fruit with cedar, mineral and earthy, savoury undertones, finishing with supple tannins and a lingering aftertaste.
$80
Four and a half stars
Below average value
A limited edition blend of cabernet saugvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, syrah and malbec released at its peak, this is concentrated with dark, complex undertones, great depth and generosity of fruit, spicy, hinting of mint, with well-integrated oak, firm, dry, fine-grained tannins and a well-balanced finish.
ANOTHER GLASS
Sherwood RD1 Waipara Collection Syrah 2011
$30
Three stars
Aelow average value
A light, gentle, mature wine, hinting of cherry and strawberry compote, silky with dusty oaktannins on the finish.
