Babich Winemakers' Reserve Merlot 2010
This stylish Merlot is produced from a special selection of grapes grown in the stony soils of our Irongate vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels region of Hawke’s Bay. It displays an attractive wealth of berry fruit and plum aromas, balanced by full-flavoured, soft tannin finish.
Winemaker Notes
Region:
Hawke's Bay - Gimblett Gravels
Recommended Food:
The sweet-fruited soft finish makes it an ideal partner for ratatouille, or equally as good with Italian-style meatballs in a garlicky tomato sauce.
Recommended Cellaring:
2-10 years
Production Notes:
Block 6 of our Gimblett Rd vineyard was thinned (crop reduction) to increase concentration and enhance flavour. The grapes were then harvested by hand in the cool of the morning and transported to the winery in a refrigerated truck. Fermentation took place in open vats with temperature allowed to rise to 30C. Frequent hand plunging of the cap controlled temperature and aided tannin and colour extraction. After almost a month in contact with the skins the wine was run off into a blend of new and old French oak. After nine months in barrel the wine was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.
Technical Notes:
Alcohol: 13.5%
TA: 5.9g/l
pH: 3.69
Residual Sugar: 0g/l
Tasting Notes:
Well fruited and complex, with aromas of black Doris plums, leather, cocoa and cedar combining to create a classic claret nose. The palate is dense and warm from entry to the spicy finish. It has spicy red and dark fruits complimented nicely by earthy savoury notes. A well integrated and beautifully balanced wine with fine, even, mouth coating tannins.
Awards
SILVER MEDAL -NZ International Wine Show 2011
4 STARS -Bob Campbell MW, www.bobswinereviews.com, June 2011
4 STARS, 17.5+/20 -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, June 2011
Wine Writer Reviews
"Moderately weighty red with a pleasing silky texture. Elegant Merlot with red berry, leather, and spicy oak flavours. Well made wine with character and appeal."
4 STARS
-Bob Campbell, www.bobswinereviews.com, June 2011
"Fruit from ‘Block 6’ of the ‘Gimblett Road’ vineyard, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 9 months in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Very dark, deep ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has an elegantly proportioned but intense bouquet of aromatic red and black berry fruits with notes of currants and fresh herbs. A fine, elegant, medium-weighted wine, the fruit is bright and rich, with lush flavours of plums and dark berries with notes of liquorice and chocolate. Fine-grained, moderately extracted tannins and fresh acidity provide good tension and line through the palate. Serve with duck, pork and red meat dishes over the next 5-7 years."
4 STARS
17.5+/20
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, June 2011
"Grown in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a full-coloured wine with good depth of plummy, spicy flavour, finely integrated oak and some nutty, savoury complexity. Worth cellaring."
-Winestate Magazine, Sep/Oct 2011
"Estate-grown in the Gimblett Gravels and matured in French oak casks, the 2010 vintage is a full-coloured wine with good density of plummy, spicy flavour, finely integrated oak and some savoury, nutty complexity. Worth cellaring."
-Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines 2012
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