Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Cabernet Merlot 2021

Colour: Deep dark ruby core with a thin purple rim. Aroma: Complex aromas of dark fruit and new leather combined with floral notes of the tobacco flower. Palate: A dark and dense palate with a sweet dark fruit spectrum. Full bodied and weighty with a luscious chocolate-like texture, spices and a long toasty finish. Ageing: Perfect for drinking immediately this wine will continue to develop and delight for at least five years from vintage but with careful cellaring will continue to develop and please.

Region: Omahu Road, Gimblett Gravels winegrowing region, Hawke’s Bay. Terroir: Soils: Vigour moderating free-draining gravel. Topography: Flat even site with a gradual slope. Climate: Warm, sheltered site.

This wine is a blend of 55 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 41 per cent Merlot and 4 per cent Malbec. Each variety was kept separate during fermentation through to the time of blending. The fruit was held cold for four days prior to ferment to help extract maximum flavour and enhance colour stability. Inoculation took place to carry out the primary alcoholic fermentation during which the fermenting must was hand plunged up to four times daily. When dry the young wines were pressed and then racked off gross lees to 35 per cent new French oak 65 per cent seasoned French oak. The wine underwent a clean malolactic fermentation while ageing in oak for 10 months. It was then gently extracted from oak, blended and carefully prepared for bottling.