Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard 2016
Trade Tools
New Zealand
The fruit for Te Kahu is grown in the Hawkes Bay Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, which enjoys one of the warmest, driest, most sundrenched climates in New Zealand. Stony gravel in the soil forces the vines to fight for water, giving the grapes a particular vibrancy.
93 Points
jamessuckling.com
2016 vintage
Harvest Note
With strong El Niño weather conditions predicted for the 2015/2016 growing season, many feared the worst for the 2016 harvest. Instead, what occurred was a nearly perfect growing season in Martinborough. Dry conditions were maintained throughout the season, which began with coolish weather during crop set and slow, even ripening as temperatures warmed. We were fortunately not impacted by an abnormally early frost period in mid-April just prior to completion of the harvest. The young Pinot Noirs show lovely purity with moderate alcohol, fine grained tannins and more freshness than the previously strong El Niño season of 1998.
Tasting Note
Deepest crimson red. Brooding aromatically with notes of cassis, black olive, dried tobacco and the faintest hint of caramel. The wine has lovely focus on the palate with dark fruits framed by fine tannins to deliver a classical structure with an excellent future ahead.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 63% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon,14% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
APPELLATION: Hawkes Bay
PH: 3.64
ACIDITY: 6.1 g/l
ABV: 13.36%
AGING: Matured for 10 months in Oak barriques
Unique Selling Points
- A unique location, climate conditions and stony soils that combine to make it the warmest vineyard area in the country.
- Red wines from the Gimblett Gravels vineyard have a rich, ripe and elegant style, and fine tannins.
- This opulent Bordeaux blend has profound blackberry and briar aromas with cedar and tobacco notes, lush dark berry flavors, noble tannins and an extended finish.
I am fortunate to lead an extraordinary group of people who want to be part of creating something truly magnificent that successive generations can admire and enjoy for years to come. I love our great estates and feel a strong connection to their complexities and subtleties.
Julian Grounds, Winemaker
About the Grape
Merlot
Merlot makes plump, succulent wines to drink young or opulently massive wines for aging. Has silky, blackberry and currant fruit, with spice, earth, tobacco and chocolate notes, and soft tannins.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc usually shows tart red cherry and wild currant aromas and flavors with an herbal, spicy character. In the Loire, esp. Chinon and Saumur-Champigny, this grape shows firm minerality.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is adaptable to various growing conditions, and is known for its low yield and late ripeness. It generally produces full-bodied wines with substantial acidity and tannins.
Malbec
Well-made Malbec is a dark, perfumed wine with rich, blackberry and damson plum fruit, aromas of violets and tobacco, and ripe, juicy tannins. In France, may be mineral, structured and austere.
