2022 Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Malbec

Brand	Esk Valley Estate
Region	Hawkes Bay
Varietal	Merlot Malbec Cab Sauv
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	13.0%
Vintage	2022
Country	New Zealand

Every year we taste this Esk Valley wine and every year we ask ourselves (rhetorically): “Is this the most under-priced red wine in NZ?” 2022 continues the trend and is another incredibly sophisticated wine from winemaker Gordon Russell, a reminder of why his winemaking colleagues at Villa Maria refer to him as Mr Merlot. Normally not a grape that excites great fireworks, Gordon manages to make it sing beautifully, the nose of this wine just pure fantasy for a lover of Bordeaux-style blends. This 100% Gimblett Gravels red blend is incredibly pure and very deeply fruited, it shows impressive structure too for a wine so modestly priced. Expect many gold medals this vintage (they have almost become de rigeur…)

Striking purity of fruit with classic cedary oak, plum, blackberry, violets, graphite, and fusels.

Beautifully pure and perfectly balanced between fruit, oak and tannin, the freshness of the finish rounds out this absurdly affordable wine. Perfect for someone starting to build up their cellar as it's able to be cellared for 5-6 years, but it’s great now. Fire up the grill and let those fine tannins complement your next meaty meal.