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 the grape skins, then it was gently fermented in stainless steel tanks to capture the bold, plummy, berry-driven flavours before the wine was then transferred to a combo of French and Hungarian oak barrels to mature for 14 months. The result is a refreshing, fruit-saturated style sh0wing a spicy spine cloaked with cocoa and a long, juicy, fleshy finish. Dangerously easy to drink!
