Craggy Range Te Kahu, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawke’s Bay 2024
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2026-2038
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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.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
