Our buyer David Conway
has tracked down what may be the last stocks of the tremendous value Thornbury
Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2007 that we found and promoted in March 2009. The initial availability of this wine
coincided with the release of the 2007 red wines from Te Mata, and while the
Thornbury wine is not in the same league in aspirational terms, there were
comparisons made between the labels.
There is no denying that the 2007 Te Mata ‘Awatea’ and ‘Coleraine’ are
superb wines with plenty of cellaring ability ahead of them. Regional Wines featured the ‘Awatea’ 2007 in
the Christmas ‘Top 30’ last year, and recent tastings of the ‘Coleraine’ 2007
confirm this is indeed a great wine, one of Hawke’s Bay’s very best from this
outstanding vintage. However, the humble
Thornbury Merlot 2007 stood up well alongside these wines.
Our friend and wine commentator Geoff Kelly was enamoured
with the Thornbury Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2007, and we reproduce his review from
www.geoffkellywinereviews.co.nz:
2007 Thornbury Merlot Hawke's Bay 18.5+ (*****)
Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s
Bay,New Zealand:14%;$20
screwcap; hand-harvested Me 89%, CS 9, Ma 2; extended 4
weeks cuvaison; 16 months in French and American oak 30% new; a
Villa Maria group label
Ruby, carmine and velvet, a little denser
than 2007 Coleraine. Bouquet is remarkably close in style and achievement
to Coleraine, but a little softer,less aromatic and cassisy, more floral
and smooth. These characters fit in with the Thornbury being merlot
almost entirely, unlike the cabernet-imbued Coleraine. Palate has the
same velvety quality of perfectly ripe fruit harvested at a grand cru cropping
rate, and raised in good oak. The American component does not stand out, the
oak may not be quite so exquisitely (potentially) cedary as the Coleraine,but
this is wonderful wine at a sensational price. My understanding is the
Thornbury label is (loosely speaking) a winemaker's play-label within the Villa
Maria group,to try and achieve something remarkable. They have
succeeded superbly here. Cellar 5 – 15 + years. EXTRAORDINARY
VALUE GK 03/09
In addition to this endorsement, the
wine has been awarded gold medals at the 2009 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards and
Liquorland Top 100 judging, as well as 5 stars in Winestate magazine. And recently, Michael
Cooper rated it his ‘Best Red Wine Buy of the Year. What makes this wine particularly attractive
is that from a retail price of $20.45, our special price is $15.95 per bottle.