Tasting Notes

This is a single vineyard BioGro certified organic wine and is natural in all respects. Its appearance is a rich, dark, ruby red with youthful purple hues.  The aroma is classic cassis, chocolate and with hints of mint in uplifted, classic Bordeaux style.  The palate has rich mocha and chocolate flavours with fine-grained tannins. The wine is underpinned by soft and subtle oak, giving it great character, balance and length.

Food Matching

A splendid wine, to be savoured and enjoyed with a Venison Osso Bucco with fresh rosemary and garlic. Or be daring, try it with a Chocolate Souffle, delicious!

Viticulture and Winemaking

The vineyard is on the banks of the Ngaruroro River at Mangatahi in the Upper Hastings catchment of Hawkes Bay. The vineyard is part of the riverbed that carried rock down to the east coast from the steep Ruahine ranges that form part of the spine of New Zealand’s North Island. These free-draining river deposited gravels (locally known as red metals) form the basis of the major fine wine producing areas within Hawkes Bay.
There is a mix of Clone 7 and Erindale vines on 3309 and 101-14 rootstocks with a little LC10 added.  The 2010 vintage in Hawkes Bay was a touch and go affair but continued on the fine run of vintages from this region. Fruit set was slightly below average, meaning the crops were naturally low and this would prove invaluable later in the season. By late January the summer remained cooler than normal meaning the Growing Degree Days tracked 1 -2 weeks behind the long-term average. By early March the fresh cool nights and sunny cloudless days allowed the moderately cropped vines to reach full ripeness and be hand harvested in early May. It was a difficult growing season with the malic acid b