Esk Valley Heipipi The Terraces Malbec Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018 750ml

Esk Valley Heipipi The Terraces Malbec Merlot Cabernet Franc 750ml

95/100 - The Wine Advocate

Esk Valley is a benchmark of elegant, quality-focused Hawkes Bay wines and the ‘Terraces’ Bordeaux Blend is a towering classic of New Zealand red wine.

This top Bordeaux blend of Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc comes from old vines grown on the steep, terraced, north-facing hillside flanking the Esk Valley winery in Hawke's Bay.  The steep limestone terraces face the sun for warm long-ripening with a sea-side micro-climate that gives this top expression a balance, elegance and finesse that is almost unmatched.   Through careful viticultural techniques, all 3 varieties are harvested on the same day and fermented as a field blend.

Esk Valley's flagship, the 2018 Heipipi The Terraces Malbec Merlot Cabernet Franc is a blend of 43% Malbec, 38% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc. It was all picked on April 20th and fermented in a single concrete tank, then aged 18 months in 50% new French oak prior to assemblage and bottling. Dark in color, it boasts knockout aromas of black cherries, toasted coconut, vanilla and cassis on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, concentrated and plush, with a long-lingering, fruit-laden finish. It's one of the top Hawke's Bay red blends to have crossed this taster's lips - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate.

FOOD MATCH - An ideal accompaniment to meat and game dishes.

Alc: 14% 

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