Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot

The grapes for this generous wine were exclusively sourced from the stony soils of our prestigious Gimblett Gravels vineyard in Hawkes Bay, on low yielding vines. With an exceptional 2018 growing season where conditions were ideal, the fruit came off the vine in very good condition, with an average of 21.2 Brix.

The grapes were gently crushed, allowing some whole berries to remain intact, and the must transferred into a mix of open top fermenters and closed stainless steel tanks for an average of four days cold soak.  Fermentation proceeded with daily rummaging for colour, flavour and fine tannin extraction. The resulting wine was aged for 15 months in quality oak French 300L hogsheads (36% being new wood), with one racking.  The wine is un-fined and un-filtered to preserve the wines natural complex structure and flavour. Bottling occurred in July 2019 under screwcap closure.

A rich full bodied wine, this traditional blend exudes intense blackcurrant, blackberry and plum flavours, layered with caramel and spicy cedary oak.  Ageing in quality oak has conferred a velvety smooth texture, giving this wine immediate appeal, or for judicious cellaring.