Posted: April 3, 2017
Fresh, vibrant and supple blend of cabernet sauvignon (46%) and merlot (38%), with smaller amounts of cabernet franc and malbec. Concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, and good, savoury complexity.
Comments Off on Clearview Old Olive Block Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Bold, dark red with concentrated, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours and a smooth finish. Soft and elegant, showing good weight, balance and length.
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Full-coloured, firm, spicy and plummy, with some development showing and savoury notes adding complexity. (From Sileni.)
Comments Off on Satyr Three Roads Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Full-flavoured, plummy, spicy red, based almost entirely (99%) on merlot. Savoury, nutty notes add complexity, with a firm finish.
Comments Off on Gunn Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 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
Full-coloured, with very good depth of fresh plum, spice, herb and olive flavours and a firm finish.
Comments Off on Askerne Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Full-coloured and fragrant, with a sweet oak influence, strong, ripe plum and spice flavours, showing some complexity, and a smooth finish.
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Fragrant and full-bodied, with rich, ripe plum and spice flavours, fresh, well-rounded and lingering.
Comments Off on Te Awa Single Estate Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Ripe fruit aromas, seasoned with sweet oak. Big, savoury, spicy wine, seasoned with nutty oak, and a finely textured, lengthy finish.
Comments Off on Sileni Estate Selection The Triangle Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark Gimblett Gravels red with a perfumed, sweetly oaked bouquet (American oak, 47% new). Vibrantly fruity, with strong plum and spice flavours, showing some savoury complexity, and a well-rounded finish.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Block Merlot 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
Generous, full-coloured red with a floral bouquet, showing a smoky, toasty oak influence. Mouthfilling body, with strong berry and spice flavours, rich, savoury and smooth.
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Mouthfilling, supple Gimblett Gravels red with a spicy bouquet, very good depth of ripe, plummy flavour, a seasoning of nutty oak, and a smooth, lengthy finish.
Comments Off on Babich Winemakers’ Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark, with excellent depth of plum, spice and nut flavours, finely textured and harmonious. Soft, rich and elegant.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark, rich and smooth. Weighty, with vibrant plum/spice flavours, a hint of herbs, finely integrated oak, good complexity and excellent ripeness, texture and depth.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Bold, bright, youthful colour. Rich, ripe plum/spice flavours, with fine-grained tannins. Powerful, dense red, sweet-fruited, soft and long. Rated highly by all judges.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Organic Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark, youthful blend with a slightly minty fragrance. Fresh, dense plum, spice and nutty oak flavours, showing excellent ripeness, concentration and complexity, and a long, softly textured finish.
Comments Off on Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Deeply coloured red with strong personality, blended from merlot (64%), cabernet sauvignon (35%) and malbec (1%), estate-grown in the Gimblett Gravels (principally) and Bridge Pa Triangle. Powerful, with plummy, slightly minty flavours, rich and smooth-flowing. Weighty, fresh and soft.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark, fragrant, powerful wine with dense, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint of coffee, and lovely softness and richness. Praised by all judges, this is a five-star red at a four-star price.
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Still youthful, this refreshing, very finely balanced wine is lively, with a sliver of sweetness, appetising acidity, and pure apple, melon and peach flavours showing very good depth.
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Light and youthful in colour, this finely textured wine is sweet-fruited, with fresh, dry pear, spice and slight nut flavours.
Comments Off on Pask Gimblett Road Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Crisp, refreshing, slightly minerally wine with substantial body, ripe, citrusy fruit flavours and a lingering finish.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ohiti Gravels Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Drinking well now, this wood-aged style has melon, cut-grass and nut flavours, a minerally streak, and good texture and complexity.
Comments Off on Osawa Prestige Collection Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Tightly structured, still-youthful wine with mouthfilling body and very good depth of citrusy flavours, fresh and crisp.
Comments Off on Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Full-bodied wine from Mangatahi with ripe fruit flavours, some barrel-ferment complexity and very good depth.
Comments Off on Crossroads Winemakers Collection Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Classy, elegant wine with a fragrant bouquet, mingling ripe fruit and smoky notes. Strong, grapefruit-like flavours, with well-integrated nutty oak, good complexity and a long finish.
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Weighty, generous, creamy-smooth wine, estate-grown at Te Awanga and barrel-fermented. Concentrated, peachy, slightly toasty flavours, with excellent texture, harmony and length.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Excellent citrus/apricot aromas with sweet honeyed notes. Luscious and lively in the mouth with a palate offering a vibrant complexity of sweet lip smacking flavours.
Comments Off on Mistletoe Hilltops Noble Viognier 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Floral perfumed aromas with nice dried fruit notes. Nice varietal expression on a textured palate with good tannin/acid balance.
Comments Off on Heritage Estate Wines Granite Belt Marsanne 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A lovely easy drinking fruit driven cabernet that is more savory in style.
Comments Off on Jacobs Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A young wine with lots of potential to grow. The cassis nose is leafy and minty; the well structured palate is complex and balanced with persistent fresh blackcurrant fruit.
Comments Off on Jacobs Creek Double Barrel Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Quite an intense, medium bodied, shiraz with lovely varietal fruit showing some peppery notes and lots of grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Koonara Angel’s Peak Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A delightful big rich wine, deep red colour with lovely purity of varietal fruit. Earthy savory notes on the nose and plenty of upfront dark berry flavours with very good tannins and long finish.
Comments Off on DiGiorgio Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Big and rich with intense spicy dark berry fruit, some licorice notes and creamy oak.
Comments Off on DiGiorgio Emporio Coonawarra Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Earthy and spicy on the nose followed by a lovely rich, full bodied, fruit driven palate.
Comments Off on Hoggies Estate Coonawarra Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Good complexity of lemon aromas and nice fresh green apple flavours with slight chalky grip.
Comments Off on Hoggies Estate Coonawarra Riesling 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
“A friendly drink”, said one judge. A blackcurrant bouquet and cedary oak and cassis fruit flavours on quite an astringent palate.
Comments Off on Redman Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Spicy and chocolaty on the nose with a tarry savory palate and an astringent tannic finish.
Comments Off on Quarisa Treasures Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Spicy plum nose with minty overtones which is echoed on the chewy flavoursome palate.
Comments Off on Quarisa Treasures Coonawarra Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Plums and cherries on the nose with slight barnyardy edge and some lovely strawberry flavours on the light, pleasant palate.
Comments Off on Herbert Vineyard Barrel Number 1 Mt Gambier Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Minty leafy nose showing leathery aged notes. Nice persistence of spicy fruit flavours with good tannin support.
Comments Off on Herbert Vineyard Cabernet Plus Mt Gambier Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Very intense concentration of sweet blackberry fruit characters on both the nose and palate with plenty of oak and savory nutty notes.
Comments Off on Flint’s Rostrevor Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A lean, obvious cool climate style of cabernet with minty menthol aromas and a lovely lingering complexity of sweet dark berry flavours layered with chocolate.
Comments Off on Flint’s Gammons Crossing Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Cassis aromas with a hint of mint and lovely balanced tarry/chocolaty palate.
Comments Off on Mojo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Intense aromas – all savory, meaty and earthy and underscored with berries and cherries. Lovely mouthfilling dark sweet fruit flavours with hints of spice. Good acid/tannin balance.
Comments Off on Wood Block Wines Single Vineyard Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
“Smells like a blackberry pie”, declared one judge. Some dusty earthiness on the nose and persistent leafy spicy fruit flavours on a medium bodied palate. Gentle tannins.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Hyland Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Attractive dark berry fruit with spicy/earthy notes and very astringent drying tannins.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Phoenix Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Smells like lime juice with good yeast complexity and a fine palate with balanced sugar/acid.
Comments Off on Yellowglen Vintage South Eastern Australia Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A complexity of briary fruit and sweet licorice with smooth balance of tannins and sugar.
Comments Off on Koonara Estate The Golden Orb Coonawarra Sparkling Shiraz 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017