Methode Traditionnelle

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic

Dessert Wine

Rose

Red Wine
 

Abbey Cellars 2005 Cabernets Merlot

This week’s wine is a surprising offering from Boutique Hawkes Bay winery Abbey Cellars in the fact that it is only one of two wines I have tried from them that doesn’t have a name. From a winery famous for choosing ecclesiastical names for its wine, this red stands out by simply being labelled Cabernets Merlot 2005.

It is not that Abbey Cellars has done anything differ4nt in this wine either or that it hasn’t been crafted with the same quality as the rest of their range. All Abbey Cellars wines are made from fruit handpicked at their ‘single estate’ vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle region of Hawkes Bay, an area known for superb grape growing conditions.

In the 2005 growing season, the region experienced a long, even summer which meant that grapes had great flavour development by the time they were harvested. Abbey Cellars picked their fruit on flavour-ripeness then crushed and destemmed into open fermenters. The fruit then underwent a cold soak for 48 hours to extract maximum colour and flavour.

The juice was then warmed up and inoculated with selected red wine yeasts before undergoing a warm ten day ferment. During this time, the cap was hand-plunged to extract tannins, stabilise colour and add structure without harsh phenolics.

Following ferment, the free-run wine was pumped away before the skins were transferred by hand to the press. The pressings were extracted separately and added back later to enhance colour and structure. The wine was aged in new French and American oak Barriques for nine months before bottling.

I found the Abbey Cellars 2005 Cabernets Merlot to have rich aromas of raspberry and liquorice. On the palate, this dry red has fruit driven flavours of ripe raspberry, blackberry and other berry fruit with soft pepper. Silky tannins combine well with earthy notes and a savoury character on the long, lingering finish.

It is a very good Cabernets Merlot and I would recommend trying it with Spaghetti Bolognese or a good traditional Italian pizza with pepperoni. I believe this wine has the potential to develop further with careful cellaring for up to three more years.

Reviewed by Stephen Clark (31/1/2011)
 

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