Ngakirikiri 2019

Upon pouring, this deep ruby coloured wine yields notably intense and pure aromatics of cassis, red and black plum and floral violet scents, with fresh ground coffee bean, fragrant dried thyme and cedar spice nuances also vying for attention. Layers of concentrated flavours emerge and flow beautifully across the palate from start to finish, with optimally ripe fruit, fine-grained tannins and supportive oak enhancing overall texture and richness at each point along the way.

Hawkes Bay with it's coastal location and proximity to mountains typically experiences a dry, maritime climate with an influential diurnal temperature range. Gimblett Gravels is located approx. 15km inland and experiences temperatures typically warmer than its neighbouring localities, promoting a consistent level of ripeness to be achieved by low yielding vines planted in free draining soils.

2019 will be fondly remembered as one of Hawkes Bay’s greatest vintages, featuring one of the warmest growing seasons on record with >1500 Growing Degree Days (GDD’s) well above the districts long term average and driven mainly by conditions experienced between January and March, resulting in early veraison and harvest. Early season rainfall enabled healthy vine canopies to ripen fruit and dry out the soils deep into the long and exceptionally dry finish to the season. With the key harvest period through to April experiencing such ideal climatic conditions, fruit was harvested at optimum ripeness and in beautiful condition.

The grapes were destemmed and crushed before a 21 day fermentation during which the caps were hand plunged three times a day. Post-fermentation, the wine was racked to French Oak barrique, 60% new, for 20 months ageing.