Home > Wine by Region > Hawkes Bay > Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot 2020

Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot 2020

NZ $47.50 incl GST

5 Star Michael Coopers Merlot!

Category Reserve Wines, Hawkes Bay, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends

Description

Winemakers Notes

This 2020 Coopers Creek Reserve wine is a 100% Merlot blended from two of Hawkes Bay’s top vineyards. The 2020 vintage was an exceptional season, with the resulting fruit harvested in such exceptional condition we made a reserve wine for the first time in 20 years. The must fermented completely dry and was pressed after one month on skins. After Malolactic fermentation the wine was transferred to 66% new French barriques, with the balance into seasoned oak. The wine spent a year in oak before racking, a light filtration, and then bottling on October 14^th 2021.

Analysis

Alc	13.5%
Acid	6.7 g/L
Res sugar	0.48 g/L
pH	3.34

Tasting Notes

Colour:	Strongly coloured, black at core with a deep ruby rim
Bouquet:	An amalgam of sweet oak and ripe Black Doris plums
Palate:	Full bodied palate leading to a finish dominated by sweet black fruit and creamy oak. Tanins are bountiful, but soft and ripe.

Cellaring
This wine will drink beautifully from release and then cellar out to over five years in the correct environment.

Food Matches
The soft tannins and earthy flavours of merlot make it a great match with full flavoured meats such as lamb, venison, beef and game. Saucea that are not too rich will go well with this wine, as will roasted garlic and vegetables. Cheeses, both soft and hard, are always good.

Independent Reviewer’s Comment

Awards