WTN : Mills Reef Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2005 - NZ

I tasted this for Jenise for her tasting of New Zealand wines the other week and I really liked it- but it was too late to include in her tasting. She had already ordered the more upmarket Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Merlot 2002, which would have been much better if only 3 of the 5 bottles had not been corked. Nevertheless, Mills Reef do seem to have a knack of making deliciously drinkable Hawkes Bay red wines, especially in the more affordable 'Reserve' range.

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2005 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Opaque in its deep black-hued cherry/crimson colour, this smells concentrated and winey - full of macerated red fruits and smoky vanillin oak. Rich and luscious to the taste with thick velvety tannins, lush cherry and plum fruit, plenty of oak with vanilla and chocolate and a deep earthy finish; underlying acidity adds brightness and there's a violet and floral prettiness to the finish. The Merlot fruitiness is upfront while the Malbec exerts it earthy yet floral character on the finish. A totally drinkable medium to full-bodied juicy Hawkes Bay red with an earthy, savoury, almost gamey aftertaste. A blend of 51% Merlot, 49% Malbec from 2 vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels subregion of Hawkes Bay, this is recommended. It has 13.5% alcohol and a screwcap closure. Here it costs NZ$22.95 on full price. Jenise's price was $21.85.

Cheers,
Sue

[David M. Bueker]

That sounds really interesting Sue. I had no idea that anyone had planted Malbec in New Zealand.

That sounds really interesting Sue. I had no idea that anyone had planted Malbec in New Zealand.

Yep, plenty of Malbec here - though not too manyy 100% Malbec wines. A mutual friend of ours has even described me a having Malbec fetish.

[David M. Bueker]

Yep, plenty of Malbec here - though not too manyy 100% Malbec wines. A mutual friend of ours has even described me a having Malbec fetish.

Whoa! TMI!

[Jenise]

I tasted this for Jenise for her tasting of New Zealand wines the other week and I really liked it- but it was too late to include in her tasting. She had already ordered the more upmarket Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Merlot 2002, which would have been much better if only 3 of the 5 bottles had not been corked. Nevertheless, Mills Reef do seem to have a knack of making deliciously drinkable Hawkes Bay red wines, especially in the more affordable 'Reserve' range.

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2005 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Opaque in its deep black-hued cherry/crimson colour, this smells concentrated and winey - full of macerated red fruits and smoky vanillin oak. Rich and luscious to the taste with thick velvety tannins, lush cherry and plum fruit, plenty of oak with vanilla and chocolate and a deep earthy finish; underlying acidity adds brightness and there's a violet and floral prettiness to the finish. The Merlot fruitiness is upfront while the Malbec exerts it earthy yet floral character on the finish. A totally drinkable medium to full-bodied juicy Hawkes Bay red with an earthy, savoury, almost gamey aftertaste. A blend of 51% Merlot, 49% Malbec from 2 vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels subregion of Hawkes Bay, this is recommended. It has 13.5% alcohol and a screwcap closure. Here it costs NZ$22.95 on full price. Jenise's price was $21.85.

Cheers,
Sue

Probably would have been more inclined to take the lesser wine if it had been a more recent vintage, but fears of a distributor pawning off bad wares--like the early-drinking Kim Crawford East that the distributor sent in place of the other ageable one we ordered--had me unwilling to take the chance instead of the Elspeth which we could be so much more sure of. As well, we wanted to showcase a top end wine somewhere in the lineup. What I could taste of the good Elspeths was terrific--not a bad decision at all, just ridiculously bad luck. The Gimblett Gravels sounds like a real winner too, and that it's benefitted from time in the bottle. Would like to see what a merlot-malbec blend tastes like--only have had one, and it was a $3.49 Chilean. Can't judge by that!