Mills Reef Bespoke Cab Sauv Cab Franc 750ml

This distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc blend was made from ultra-premium grapes grown in stony soils on twenty year old vines in our

Mere Road Vineyard, located in the celebrated Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District of Hawke’s Bay.

The grapes were handpicked at ideal physiological ripeness and balance between 15th and 23rd April 2015 at 22.0° Brix. The fruit was destemmed, retaining whole berries which were cold-soaked for four days then inoculated with selected yeast. The cap was rummaged twice daily throughout ferment, until dry.

The wine was macerated on its skins for a further 15 days, then pressed to barrel and aged for 13 months in quality 68% French and 32% American oak (of which 39% was new wood) with one gentle aerated racking. The final wine came together in July 2016 then egg white fined, followed by cross-flow filtration prior to bottling under screwcap on 30 August 2016.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district come seamlessly together in this delicious fusion, bursting with blackcurrant and boysenberry fruits wrapped in a delightfully fresh violet perfume, complemented with subtle cedary oak and a lingering spicy liquorice finish. The ideal accompaniment with your favourite red meat dish.