2017 Esk Valley The Hillside Malbec Cabernet Franc Merlot

Brand	Hidden Label
Region	Hawkes Bay
Varietal	Malbec Merlot Cabernet Franc
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	14.0%
Vintage	2017
Country	New Zealand

This third release of Esk Valley’s Hillside Merlot Cabernet, the first was in 2010 when the fruit off the Terraces Vineyard was deemed not quite good enough to make their flagship Terraces wine… with hindsight and evidenced in the 2010 “The Hillside”... Gordon knows he could have produced a great Terraces. The 2013 vintage was widely claimed as the vintage of a generation, and the wines lived up to that. Consequently, a Terraces (Malbec dominant) was produced, along with its ongoing alter-ego “The Hillside” (Merlot dominant) off the same iconic vineyard. Hillside 2017 another where the vintage was not up there to make a Terraces. Lucky for us, we have it at half the price in this Malbec dominate field blend (Malbec 40%, Cabernet Franc 33%, Merlot 27%). Cropped at near yields to the much-famed Terraces. Handpicked and co-fermented in the 75-year-old concrete Vats before 18 months’ maturation in 100% French Oak (50% new). It needs a long decant now but will be singing at 5 - 10 years of age.

Intensely fragrant perfumes of cassis, dark plums, smoky meat, vanilla, violets and cedar.

Soft, supple and succulent, yet with great palate weight, the tannins are chalky and fine lending support to immense fruit weight expressed by sheer finesse and a very layered, long length. This wine has immense character and for this price there is no excuse not to tuck a case away to enjoy over the next 10 years.