Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Hawke’s Bay 2024

The name is Maori for ‘cloak’, referring to the mist which can occasionally be found covering the Giants Estate Winery in the Tukituki Valley (if the name rings a bell, the Tukituki River is famous for big trout, a fly fisherman’s nirvana). The blend for this Gimblett Gravels wine is 49% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. The colour is a mix of bruised plum and mauve. The wine is finely crafted, offering great intensity and impressive balance. Still youthful, it is concentrated, has a supple texture and provides serious length, finishing with sleek tannins. The aromas weave through notes of mulberries, blackberries, coffee beans and chocolate. A really good example of a Bordeaux Blend from this wonderful region in New Zealand. Enjoy it over the next eight to twelve years.