2004 Hawke's Bay Merlot/Malbec

At the end of a beautiful autumn, grapes were hand-harvested in premium condition. The 2004 Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Malbec has an abundance of red berry aromas typical of these classical varieties. The palate is full and round with soft tannins supported by fine oak, and will continue to develop with medium term cellaring.

This Merlot blend is made from high quality, hand picked fruit grown on the Ngatarawa Road vineyard. Hand crafted by Bruce Helliwell, traditional gentle winemaking techniques were employed followed by maturation with a combination of oak staves and seasoned oak barriques. The wine was then bottle aged for a further four months prior to release at an optimal stage for drinking or cellaring.