WINE REVIEWS: Merlot and cabernet blends set to develop

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.

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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 [2]

 

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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 [4]

 

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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 [6]

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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 [8]

 

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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 [10]

 

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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 [12]

 

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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 [10]

 

 

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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 [15]

 

 

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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 [10]

 

 

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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 [18]

 

 

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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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