While there’s a lot of international praise for New Zealand whites, sauvignon blanc especially, and increasingly for our pinot noir, there are some red wines that are world class.
2012 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Winemakers John Hancock and Warren Gibson love this kind of blend and depending on the harvest, tinker with the percentages. Predominantly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. It has excellent structure andis brooding, beautiful and flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant and herbs. Price: $35
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve More from Hawkes Bay's Gimblett Gravels where ripening conditions continue to provide a premium grape-growing area. This merlot/malbec/cabernet sauvignon blend is made only in favourable years and is fermented in 80-year-old concrete fermenters and then aged in French oak barriques. The result is a wine with lovely black fruit flavours, cherry, tobacco, dark chocolate and spicy oak. Good drinking now or cellaring for many years. Price: $65
2007 Matariki Taurus Not a cheap wine, but if you want something celebratory, this cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, syrah and malbec blend is astonishing. Crafted lovingly in 2007 to celebrate Matariki's 30th year as winegrowers. It has a fine tannin structure, superb fruit balance with a velvet finish ... perfect. Price: $80
