Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019

February 10, 2021By Yvonne

Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019 $35 This absolute mouthquake of a blend is comprised of 78% Malbec, 14% merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and I am absolutely in love with it! Scented with cedar, blueberry, black doris plum and smoky vanilla vavoom, the palate is saturated with boysenberry, licks of … Read More

Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Temptation Malbec 2019

December 31, 2020By Yvonne

Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Temptation Malbec 2019 $25 Inky magenta in the glass and grizzling around the gills with earthy spices and gamey, wild and woolly notes. Malbec as a single varietal in Hawke’s Bay is not a common thing, particularly in the Bridge Pa area. so when someone decides to bottle it solo, my … Read More

Hunting Lodge Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019

August 31, 2020By Yvonne

Hunting Lodge Project X Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019 $36 Well yippee ki yay, if it isn’t the deepest, darkest, inkiest red to hit my stirrups in ages.  The Project X is big, bold and muscular in all the right places, supersized into the realms of smoke and vanilla from being aged in … Read More

Te Aotea Vineyard South Kaipara Angels Malbec 2014

July 4, 2020By Yvonne

  Te Aotea Vineyard South Kaipara Angels Malbec 2014 Made from a single barrel of 100% biodynamically-grown malbec by Stephen Nobilo in the South Kaipara, it’s quite a unique and lovely wine. Dark, glossy and boasting gorgeous aromas not unlike a chocolate and raspberry lamington (coconut, vanilla, chocolate and berry coulis characters)  The palate is … Read More

Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018

July 2, 2020By Yvonne

Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 $25 Paired with Vegetable Shepherds Pie in Issue 92 of dish Magazine Take the vegetable love a step further by sipping the certified vegan Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 ($25) with this pie perfection. Fleshy, ripe and rolling with robust berry and spice flavours, this warming, … Read More

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018

May 29, 2020By Yvonne

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018 $24.95 Shiny and new from the Mills Reef crew (love me a wine rhyme) is this cracking blend of 61% merlot and 39% malbec from Hawke’s Bay’s superstar Gimblett Gravels sub-region.  Cold-soaked for 5 days after being gently crushed has maximised extraction of colour and texture from … Read More

Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018

May 11, 2020By Yvonne

Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018 $32 SUCH a pretty ruby-garnet colour and heaving with lifted raspberry, boysenberry, blueberry, oh what the heck, every berry!  There’s a solid, savoury line through this local version of a Bordeaux classic, of an Argentinean champion, and I love the leather and suede textures that come with that.  … Read More

Eaton Marlborough Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

April 30, 2020By Yvonne

Eaton Marlborough Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $48 Cool-climate elegance all the way here with Mike Eaton’s new 85:10:5 blend sourced from tiny parcels of fruit gathered from secret-squirrel plots across the region. Seasoned leather, blueberry, graphite, blackcurrant, and pepper push their way across the palate. The tannins are fine-grained, deliciously dusty, and as per … Read More

Eaton Marlborough Merlot Malbec Cabernet 2014

April 30, 2020By Yvonne

Eaton Marlborough Merlot Malbec Cabernet 2014 $48 Straight out, I’ll say this 85/10/5 blend (created by Mike Eaton) may need decanting as it’s un-fined and unfiltered and natural sediment and tartrate crystals (or ‘wine diamonds’) may appear. This means all the natural anise, blueberry, pine needle, white pepper, sweet vanilla and smoke notes shine through. … Read More

Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018

March 22, 2020By Yvonne

Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018 $25 Peter Robertson, owner and winemaker of Brookfields is one of New Zealand’s most experienced winemakers, accumulating huge knowledge of techniques since beginning his career in 1974.  Drying grapes in the sun prior to fermentation dates back to the early Greek and Italian times (like 6th century BC early!) … Read More