The 2007 Mills Reef
‘Elspeth’ Cabernet Sauvignon carries the same pedigree as the previous two
vintages and also expresses the outstanding vintage conditions of that
harvest. The fruit was sourced from the
company’s Gimblett Gravels vineyard on Mere Road and fermentation was 50% in
small open top fermenters and 50% in the unique ‘Integrale’ barrels now adopted
by Paddy and Tim Preston as essential for gentle extraction with maximum fruit
aroma and flavour expression. The wine
spent 16 months in 60% new French barrels to complete its elevage. It is simply elegant, refined and full of
breed with classical cassis flavours and lovely spice elements, hints of
liquorice and complexing cedar notes.
Not a ‘big’ wine, it nevertheless has concentration, an iron core and
real length. It is a new release that
can be very highly recommended. RC March 09
Browse all Mills Reef Wines
Area: Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay
Winemaker: Tim Preston & Paul Dawick
Alcohol: 14%
This
densely coloured and generous red was made from ultra premium grapes
grown in our Mere Road Vineyard, located in the prestigious Gimblett
Gravels district of Hawke's Bay.
The grapes were handpicked on
May 9th at 23.6 brix, destemmed, gently crushed and cold-soaked for 7
days. Fermentation was split into two parcels, the first (50%)
innoculated with a selected yeast in a small open top fermenter and
plunged twice daily, the second (50%) wild fermented in new Integrale
barrels and rotated twice daily.
After fermention to dry, the
wine was macerated on its skins for a further sixteen days, followed by
pressing to barrel, where it was aged for 16 months in 60% new and 40%
one year old quality French oak (60% integrals and 40% hogsheads), with
2 aerated rackings throughout. Bottling took place under screwcap on
7th October 2008.
This powerful mouthfilling Cabernet Sauvignon
is intensely varietal wtih ripe blackcurrant, liquorice, plum, moccha
and appetizing savoury and spice notes. It is immediately rich with a
veil of tantalizing smokiness that complexes the ripe black fruitiness,
moving to leather, spice and a hint of caramel, on a backbone of ripe
velvety tannins. Vibrant and delicious, it has tremendous length,
finishing dry, spicy and smooth.
Source: millsreef.co.nz