2016 - Gimblett Gravels Vineyard
Hawke's Bay
2016 - Gimblett Gravels Vineyard , Hawke's Bay
The best parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Bordeaux varietals are selected from the Gimblett Gravels vineyard and blended to make the richly layered and precisely constructed ‘Sophia’. The grapes are blended to produce a wine that is a unique canvas of its place.
$140
$140
The best parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Bordeaux varietals are selected from the Gimblett Gravels vineyard and blended to make the richly layered and precisely constructed ‘Sophia’. The grapes are blended to produce a wine that is a unique canvas of its place.
A refined and elegant hand-crafted Merlot dominant blend that represents both the vigneron’s art and inherent understanding of the land, ensuring ‘Sophia’ is the finest expression of the terroir and the people.
‘Sophia’, meaning ‘wisdom’ in greek mythology, pays tribute to the goddess of knowledge and experience, information and understanding - a philosophy adopted by our winemakers and viticulturists when creating this wine.
5 Stars, 98 Points
"A super-smooth blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with dense, complex mixed red berries, blackcurrant, floral, violet, anise, spice, cedar, new leather and nutty oak flavours. A powerful wine that's impressive now but shows obvious cellaring potential."
Bob Campbell, MW
October 2017
95 Points
"Medium bodied, red fruits in the main, though some black, toast and herbs, almost a honey thing going on, raspberry freshness, black pepper and spice, good finish, with grainy tannin pushing through. I like the smoky/earthy theme it has, combined with its freshness and verve. They know how to do Merlot in Hawke’s Bay, that’s for sure."
Gary Walsh, Wine Front
July 2017
97 Points
"The palate delivers awesome concentration and richness, wonderfully complemented by silky texture and fleshy mouthfeel. Tannins are fine and in abundance, providing outstanding structure and length to this breathtaking wine."
Sam Kim
July 2017
Julian Grounds, Chief Winemaker
Julian Grounds, Chief Winemaker
Deep darkest red. Aromatically complex with notes of ripe dark plum, violets, an autumnal forest and a touch of smoke. The wine exhibits great focus and intensity with fine tannins layered thorugh a core of dark fruit. The wine carries a real seriousness that underlies its youthful charm.
Rich red meats
10 - 15 years from vintage
Cool spring and early summer, warm and dry finish. Excellent.
23.8 average
34 hl/ha average
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 45% new
Deep darkest red. Complex aromatic profile with notes of ripe plum, cassis, dried rose and spice from the finest French Oak. The wine exhibits a wonderful depth of dark red fruits whilst maintaining an enticing level of freshness across the palate. Layered, youthful and persistent, this is a classically composed wine.
Chateaubriand with shallots, field mushrooms and fresh thyme
10 - 15 years from vintage
Cool spring, early summer, warm & dry finish. Excellent.
23.9
41 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 45% new
61% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc
Darkest red. Brooding aromatically with blackcurrant, blackberry, dried red rose and cedar notes emerging. The wine exerts elegance across the palate with a pure red /black fruit core drawn long by layers of fine grained tannins.
Rich beef
10-15 years from vintage
Warm and early, excellent.
24 average
48 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 42% new barrel
62% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Dark garnet colour. Beautifully lifted and complex aromas of spiced red fruits, crushed autumn leaves and sandalwood. Classically composed on the palate with fruit richness given length by balanced acidity and fine dusty tannins. Finishes elegant, dry and long.
Rich beef
15-20 years from vintage
Warm and dry, excellent.
23.4 average
48 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 42% new barrel
60% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Dark garnet colour. Lifted aromatics of dark berries, cassis, cocoa and wooden spices. Rich sweet fruit and hints of caramel are surrounded by firm fine tannins which provide elegance and great length on the palate.
Rich beef
10-15 years from vintage
Warm, La Niña Summer
23.7 average
45 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed stainless steel tanks
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 37% new barrel
63% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Dark garnet core colour. Spicy notes of cinnamon and freshly roasted espresso beans combine with oak and herb notes of cedar and thyme to overlay a ripe blackcurrant base aroma. The palate exudes elegance via a balance of fine layered tannin and mid palate fruit presence. This wine has a soft texture on a mid weight frame, yet has immense length.
Beef
10-15 years from vintage
Cool, dry autumn, very good.
23.1 average
43 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed stainless steel tanks
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 44% new barrel
65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Opaque core flanked by a magenta rim. Black doris plum, blackcurrant, dried rosemary, cocoa dust and a hint of vanilla vie for attention. Brooding and ripe. The palate is layered with fine dusty tannins providing the structure for the ample flavour and length. Exceptional balance between fruit richness, tannic backbone and acidity is immaculate.
Rare beef fillet
10+ years from vintage
Sunny and warm, outstanding
24 average
40 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 45% new barrel
89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
Dark garnet coloured core with vivid crimson hues. Unctuous blackberry fruit is sprinkled with dried herb notes of wild thyme and rosemary plus a hint of vanilla. Layers of dusty fine tannin provide a savoury impression to match the currant flavours and long spicy finish.
Rare beef fillet
15 years from vintage
Warm and dry, very good.
24.1 average
48 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak tanks
Inoculated
French oak barriques
81% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec
Dark garnet coloured core with vivid crimson hues. Aromas of violets, cedar, darkest plum and subtle vanilla meld for a complex bouquet. The palate possesses layers of fine tannin polished by unctuous fruit character and incredible length.
Rare beef fillet
10-15 years from vintage
Long, dry, yet cool
24.1 average
43 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 50% new barrel
85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec
An opaque core colour with vivid crimson hues. Aromas of blackberry, plum and thyme mingle with characters of cedar, sandalwood and tobacco. On the palate, these complex characters are laced with layers of silky tannin, providing structure and flavour persistence. The textural and aromatic elements are seamless, framed by balanced acidity.
Beef fillet
10-15 years from vintage
Very warm
23.9 average
51 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 60% new barrel
62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep garnet colour with an evident ruby hue. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry and plum mingle with characters of cedar, sandalwood and tobacco. On the palate these same characters are laced with layers of firm tannin providing a taut structure. The wine is powerful and intense, yet seamless and framed with bright acidity.
Beef
15-20 years from vintage
Classic red vintage in all aspects.
24.2 - 25 average
62 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 80% new barrel
92% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Opaque purple with a cherry flush in colour. Intensely aromatic nose of plum, ripe cherries and currants spiced with liquorice, mocha and sandalwood notes. These flavours awash the mouth, the wine is full and lush, complemented by new leather and bitter chocolate characters. The structure is long and seamless with a fine tannin structure.
Juicy beef and lamb dishes
10+ years from vintage
Cool, dry and sunny.
24.3 average
49 hl/ha
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 70% new barrel
Intense, brooding, deep black colour, almost opaque. Concentrated, complex aromas of black plums, spices, tobacco, coffee and violets that in their youth are tightly held. The palate is densely structured, with concentrated flavours that reflect the nose adding a further hint of sweet fruit and chocolate notes with fantastic fine fruit and oak tannins to finish.
Beef
10+ years from vintage
23.5 - 24.8 average
100%
100%
Open top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 70% new barrel
63% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec
Intense brooding, deep black cherry colours, almost opaque. Concentrated, complex aromas of black plums, cassis, liquorice, root spices, tobacco, coffee and violets that in their youth are tightly held. The palate is densely structured, with concentrated flavours that reflect the nose adding a further hint of sweet blueberry pie and bitter chocolate notes with fantastic fine fruits and oak tannins to finish.
Beef
10-15 years from vintage
23.5 average
35 hl/ha
100%
100%
French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques, 100% new barrel
61% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 14% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Intense in colour, almost opaque. The nose is of musky black fruit and lifted floral notes. Rich and luscious ripe plum, sweet berry and spice characters typical of Merlot are enhanced by the juiciness of Cabernet Franc. The wine is mouth-filling, rich and powerful. Tannins are fine and ripe, the structure is long and the finish lingering.
Beef
10+ years from vintage
24.2 average
100%
100%
Closed top French oak cuves
Inoculated
French oak barriques
Hawke's Bay
39° 35' 57.2"S
176° 44' 5.6"E
In 1876, great floods swept through Hawke's Bay. When they subsided, the Ngaruroro River had changed its course and a vista of gravel was left behind in a warm, sun-filled valley, greened lightly with spring rain. On the right bank of this old river is a collection of different soil mixes, stone and mineral rich, ideal for growing Syrah, Bordeaux-style reds and Chardonnay.
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