Wine Note

After a long and warm to mild growing season the grapes were hand harvested at optimum ripeness and flavour levels.

Fruit

100% Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay

Alcohol Content

14.0%

Vinification

The grapes were destemed and crushed into small vessels for fermentation. Fermentation was conducted on skins and the cap was plunged by hand for 7-10 days until dry. At the completion of fermentation the skins were pressed and the fractions combined and transferred to barrels for malo-lactic fermentation. On the completion of fermentation the wine was racked and sulphured.

Barrel Percentage

The wine was matured in one-year old French barriques for 21 months

Bottling

End of February 2003

Sensory

Colour: Intense red cherry. 
Aroma: Red cherries with earthy and prune like complexities.  
Palate: : Round with firm dry tannins, subtle cedary oak and integrated fruit cake and cherry flavours. 

Cellaring

4-6 years.