Posted: July 4, 2018
Good to see a wine showing some bottle development. Luxuriantly fruited with bold dense plum cake and dark berry fruit and lovely olive and dried sage notes too. Firm cabernet tannins still playing a major role. Long and savoury with…
Comments Off on Pask Declaration Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / July 4, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Blackcurrant and raspberry fruit. Touch of new oak. Not particularly concentrated but ripe and generous. Dusting of papery tannin. Nicely done, easy drinking and appealing. $18.00
Comments Off on Mount Riley Merlot Malbec 2016 / 0 View / March 2, 2018
Posted: June 16, 2017
Full-coloured, with a fresh, spicy bouquet, strong plum/spice flavours and oak-matured complexity. Refined, savoury and lingering, with good cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Cable Bay Five Hills Waiheke Island Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured blend of merlot (86%) and malbec (14%), matured in French oak barrels (35% new.) Gutsy, with strong, ripe, plum and spice flavours, brambly and earthy notes adding complexity, and a firm foundation of tannin.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Merlot Malbec 2012 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Full-coloured, purple-flushed blend of merlot (76%) and malbec (24%), barrel-aged for over a year. Sturdy, with strong, youthful, berryish, spicy flavours, a hint of dark chocolate and a fairly firm finish.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dark, rich blend of merlot (84%) and Malbec (16%). Weighty and firmly structured, with concentrated blackcurrant and plum flavours, hints of dried herbs and spices, and obvious cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Peacock Sky Waiheke Island Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deeply coloured, Waiheke Island blend of merlot (70%) and malbec (30%), seasoned with toasty oak. Fleshy, concentrated, spicy and savoury, with good tannin backbone. $38
Comments Off on Awaroa Merlot Malbec 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Youthful, purple/black blend of merlot (77%) and malbec (23%). Concentrated plum and spice flavours, with a hint of licorice, a strong, sweet oak influence and a long, soft finish. Praised by one judge as “full-bored”. $25 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Coopers Creek SV Gravels and Metals Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Showing good potential, this youthful, 3:1 blend of merlot and malbec was French oak-aged for over a year. Deeply coloured, it has fresh, smooth, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, gently seasoned with oak, and firm tannins. $40
Comments Off on Peacock Sky Waiheke Island Merlot Malbec 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Deeply coloured, with concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours. Slightly peppery notes, with barrel-aged complexity and a firmly structured finish. $23
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Full-coloured and sweet-fruited, with strong, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, some oak complexity and a smooth finish. Enjoyable young.
Comments Off on Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Vibrantly fruity blend of merlot (79%) and malbec (21%), with plum, spice and nut flavours, showing very good depth.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek SV Metals and Gravels Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Deeply coloured, merlot-based, Gimblett Gravels blend, with minor portions of malbec (6%), syrah (5%), cabernet sauvignon (2%) and cabernet franc (2%). Strong blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, complex and savoury, and good tannin backbone.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Brokenstone Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Powerful, bold Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (80%), malbec (15%) and cabernet franc (5%), barrel-aged for a year. Concentrated plum, spice and herb flavours, with smooth tannins. Sharply priced.
Comments Off on Moana Park Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Powerful, concentrated blend of merlot (81%), malbec (13%) and cabernet franc (6%). Bold, plummy, spicy flavours, with nutty oak and fine-grained tannins. Rich, ripe and rounded. Great value.
Comments Off on Clearview Cape Kidnappers Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 / 0 View / April 3, 2017