Cable Bay Five Hills Merlot Malbec 2019

Leather, blackberry, medjool date and doris plum aromatics bounce from the glass. Rosemary flowers also subtly there, along with savoury, toasty spices from the oak. The palate has solid tannin structure and beautiful shape, which will integrate and soften with time ageing in bottle. Blackcurrant, savoury smoky roast meat, coffee and chocolate flavours on the palate, with a mineral texture that is reminiscent of clay pots hot from the kiln, and volcanic rock. The natural acidity of the Malbec and our place, provides direction and length, securing us the knowledge this is a wine built to age.

This wine is from Merlot and Malbec vines grown on a single vineyard site in our estate owned Waiheke Island Vineyard. The vineyard site is situated on sun-drenched, south-west facing hillside slopes with predominantly mineralised clay soils and volcanic ash, over Jurassic era rock. The viticulture is meticulous, with the aim of balanced, heathy vines, which bear beautifully ripe grapes with intense concentration of natural Merlot and Malbec characteristics. Harvesting perfect fruit is our first priority

These grapes were handpicked in March 2019, and immediately transferred into small open top fermenters in our winery. The ferment was predominantly whole berry, which we plunged by hand to ensure gentle extraction of colour and tannins from the fruit. At pressing, only the free run wine was retained, and run to French oak barriques for integration and maturation. In oak, it aged for 17 months before assemblage and bottling. The final wine is a reflection of both the growing season, and the character each variety contributes to make a powerful yet balanced wine.

Whole-berry ferment, matured in French oak barrels, 27% new.