Methode Traditionnelle

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Sauvignon Blanc

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Red Wine
 

Abbey Cellars 2009 ‘Temptation’ Malbec

The name Abbey Cellars was chosen due to the owner’s penchant for churches, cathedrals and abbeys. The name evokes thoughts of tradition, mystery, beauty and romance, not dissimilar to the thoughts a good bottle of wine can also conjure. The winery building is a unique modern interpretation of a gothic abbey, reflecting the blend of modern and traditional winemaking techniques employed at the winery.

The wine I have chosen this week is their aptly named ‘Temptation’ Malbec. As with the rest of their wines fruit for this wine is handpicked from the Abbey Cellars single estate vineyard in the Bridge Pa triangle wine region of Hawkes Bay. The 2009 growing season saw hotter weather early in the season meaning that the fruit was harvested earlier than usual and was riper than usual.

Fruit was picked on flavour and ripeness then crushed and destemmed into open fermenters before undergoing a cold soak for 48 hours to extract maximum colour and flavour. It was then warmed and inoculated with selected red wine yeasts. The cap was hand plunged each day during a warm ten day fermentation to ensure the colour and tannins contained in the skins was infused into the wine.

Following ferment, the free run juice was pumped away and the skins were transferred by hand to the press to extract more juice. This was kept separately and added back into the wine later to add colour and structure. The wine was matured for nine months in 100 percent French Oak, adding complexity.

I found this wine to have aromas of plums and spices, while on the palate, the 2009 Abbey Cellars ‘Temptation’ Malbec exhibits delicious flavours of ripe strawberry and raspberry with underlying savoury notes. The wine has velvety tannins and a smooth, lingering finish that tempts you into another sip as the name suggests. Despite it being young, it is drinking well now and is a very good example of this variety.

I would expect it to cellar well for another four years. I would recommend it with Moroccan lamb or an Indian lamb curry. Pepper Steak or crumbed lamb cutlets could also accompany this wine well. 

Reviewed by Stephen Clark (5/72010)
 

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