THE ELSPETH RANGE

Elspeth represents our top tier of wines produced from our own vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay. The fruit is hand-picked and only under the Elspeth label when fruit is of exceptional quality. Our winemaking team share the philosophy of a hands-on, no expense spared approach to produce these fine award winning wines. The range is limited to chardonnay, Syrah and Bordeaux style reds

MILLS REEF
ELSPETH CABERNET MERLOT
2013

This distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon was made from ultra-premium grapes grown in stony soils on twenty year old vines in our Mere Road Vineyard, located in the celebrated Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District of Hawke’s Bay.
The grapes were handpicked at ideal physiological ripeness and balance on 23rd April 2015 at 22.0° Brix.

The fruit was destemmed, retaining whole berries which were cold-soaked for two days then inoculated with selected yeast. The cap was hand plunged twice daily throughout ferment, until dry.

The wine was macerated on its skins for a further 23 days, then pressed to barrel and aged for 13 months in quality 63% American and 37% French oak (of which 40% was new wood) with one gentle aerated racking. The final wine came together in July 2016 with the addition of a small portion of Cabernet Franc. It was egg white fined, followed by filtration prior to bottling under screwcap and cork closure on 29 July 2016.

This superior Cabernet Sauvignon from the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District showcases delicious aromas and flavours of intense black-berried fruits, liquorice and spice. Well-proportioned on supple tannins, this seductive wine is ready for immediate enjoyment, or will reward judicious cellaring. 

AWARDS TO DATE

NEW RELEASE 

GENERAL INFORMATION

VINTAGE 

2015  

GRAPE VARIETY 

Cabernet Sauvignon 

GROWING AREA 

Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay 

WINEMAKER 

Tim Preston & Paul Dawick 

HARVEST DATE 

23 April 2015 

WINE ANALYSIS

BRIX AT HARVEST 

22.0° brix avg 

JUICE ACIDITY 

6.76 g/L averag 

WINE ACIDITY 

5.93 g/L 

WINE pH 

3.55 

ALCOHOL 

13.5 % 

LOT NUMBER 

L6221 

BOTTLE BARCODE 

94 16055 43816 2 

CARTON BARCODE 

194 16055 43866 4