Mud House - Hawkes Bay, Merlot 2012

At the Mud House, they craft wines using a combination of technology and traditional winemaking methods with the courage to do things their way. They nurture their vineyards throughout New Zealand so that our grapes reach optimum ripeness, ensuring varietal character and flavour.

Colour: Deep red.

Nose: Fruit characters of plums and bramble, with secondary notes of earth and leather. Hints of sweet spice, chocolate and toasty oak completes the aroma profile.

Palate: A medium bodied wine with a richness and weight typical of Merlot. The palate structure aims for softness of tannin and acidity which accentuates the weight and finish of this wine while showing flavours of plums, anise and mocha.

Comments: The winemaking focused on good varietal expression coupled with suppleness and hence drinkability.

Food Matching: New Zealand lamb shank. Serve at room temperature.

92% of the Hawkes Bay fruit was sourced from the Te Awa Vineyard on the Gimblett Gravels and Corner 50 Vineyard in the Ngatarawa sub-region. The remaining fruit was sourced from the Kimble Vineyard in Waipara.

Grape: 90% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc.