[ tasting notes ]
Hawke’s Bay highlights By Cameron Douglas MS
HAWKE’S BAY really does seem to have it all – excellent soils for wine, growing conditions that are mostly predictable, and great wine results. Winemakers still get nervous around harvest time – watching the weather especially. Prepping and micro-training picking teams. Hawke’s Bay has been linked to high quality red wine, in particular, for at least the last 25 years. The modern expressions of Merlot and Cabernetbased blends are fantastic. Issues of the past with under-ripe fruit and ‘green’ wine is all but gone. The development and success of Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Tempranillo and even sweet wine is a testament to the love of wine that exists in the Bay. Extreme vineyard work kind of goes without saying. Better yeast strains, wider use of natural ferments and less impact of oak have all contributed to fine wine results. It doesn’t just happen on its own, of course, and there’s a whole load of work that goes on in the background to make these modern wines look as good as they do. The red blended wines of the region (sometimes referred to as Bordeaux Blends) feature Merlot, the Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon and often Malbec and Petit Verdot. The best of those produced have a focused core of fruit, are ripe and bold on the palate and display very expressive and abundant tannins, plenty of acidity and oak. Syrah from this region are as good as any you’ll find from its counterparts in France and the New World. Sangiovese and Montepulciano are emerging as varieties to now pay attention to. The selection of wines tasted for this issue have shown both the challenges and delights of the of the last few vintages. Without exception, the wines tasted all showed a focus on ripe fruit - some also showing earthy mineral highlights, not too much oak (when used) and, the most important to this writer, balance.
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PASK DECLARATION HAWKE’S BAY MERLOT 2013 A lovely bouquet, complex. Loaded with aromas of plums and spice, gravelly soils and French oak spice. Firm textures on the palate showing off the youth, focus and concentration. Flavours of dark berries and plums, toasty wood spices and steely, youthful and engaging core. Long finish, totally harmonious and exemplary. Drink well now and through 2026+. A real treat. Points 96 RRP $50 Distributor: Hancocks Wine, Spirit and Beer Merchants Phone: (06) 879 7906 www.pask.co.nz
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BLACK BARN VINEYARDS HAWKE’S BAY CONCETTA 2015 Complex, earthy, woody and totally varietal with aromas of sweet and sour cherry, red plum, blackberry and tea. Quite aromatic with clove and tobacco oak. Dry, equal fruit and oak flavours, dark spices, rustic and complex earthy layers. A fantastic wine, complex lengthy finish. Best drinking from now and through 2028+ Points 95 RRP $85.00 Distributor: Negociants NZ Phone: (06) 877 7985 www.blackbarn.com
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ASKERNE LATE HARVEST HAWKE’S BAY GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2017 Honey, spices, baked apple tart, clove and brown sugar. Very sweet, very fruity, loaded with flavours of honey and apricot, baked apple tart and clove. Full-bodied and rich and creamy texture. Long finish, delicious! Drink now. Points 94 RRP $22.90 Distributor: Co Pilot Phone: (09) 412 9137 www.askernewines.co.nz
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PASK GIMBLETT GRAVELS HAWKE’S BAY MERLOT 2016 Rich, vibrant, fruity and toasty bouquet. Dry on the palate with flavours of baked plums and cinnamon, roasted dark cherry and toast, old rose and blackberry pie. Firm and youthful texture with abundant tannins and acidity and a core of dark red fruit flavours. Youthful, firm and dry so food recommended. A well-made example with a lengthy focussed finish. Drink now if decanted otherwise best from 2020 though 2026. Points 94 RRP $22.00 Distributor: Hancocks Wine, Spirit and Beer Merchants Phone: (06) 879 7906 www.pask.co.nz
FMCG BUSINESS: THE SHOUT - APRIL 2019
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