2014 Leveret Estate Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet
Wine Features
Intensely deep aroma of blackcurrant fruit, dark chocolate, mint and dried herb. The palate shows and seamless balance fruit weight and tannin.
Produced from low yield sections of our Tantallon vineyard in the Bridge Pa sub district of Hawkes Bay. The Bridge Pa is renowned for its red metal soils and ability to ripen Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah properly. The site plus particularly favourable weather conditions during the 2013 ripening season in the Hawkes Bay region have given us a perfect base for crafting the wine.
Pre-fermentation cold soak and extended post ferment skin contact time were both employed with this wine during its early days at the winery. Pressing off skin occurred up to 30 days after harvest. The wine was then run straight to new and one-year old French oak barrels for MLF and 15 months barrel maturation.
Variety
Merlot Cabernet
Year
2014
Alcohol
14.0%
Awards
Silver IWSC 2016;
4 stars Cuisine
Best With
- Pepperoni with fennel
- Souvlaki
- Burgers (especially cheeseburgers)
- Spicy mixed risotto with spicy taste
- Roast turkey (mature merlot wines are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas)
- Medium-hard cheese (not too rich)
- Grilled salmon
- Chinese crispy duck pizza
- Stewed steak
- Stewed chicken, pork or rabbit
Best Taste Temperature
16 – 18
Storage
Up to 8-10 years