Askerne 2016 Viognier and 2015 Reserve Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2016
  Viognier from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 06-Jul-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light golden-hued yellow colour, a little lighter on the edge. This has a gently rich and full nose of ripe apricot fruit along with subtle exotic yellow stonefruit notes, entwined with savoury creamy barrel-ferment and nutty oak notes. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate is up-front with sweetly ripe apricot and savoury yellow stonefruit flavours, along with creamy barrel-ferment richness and nutty oak elements. The fruit flavours form a rounded, but concentrated core, underlined by some alcoholic power. The acidity is integrated and the wine carries with freshness and linearity to a long, rich, luscious apricotty and nutty finish. This is an up-front, dryish Viognier with ripe and savoury apricot, stonefruit and creamy, nutty flavours on a rounded core with some alcoholic drive. Match with Asian and Middle Eastern fare over the next 3+ years. Fruit from the lower terraces of the ‘Askerne’ vineyard, hand-picked, WBP and fully barrel-fermented, partially by indigenous yeasts to 14.0% alc. and 5 g/L RS, the wine aged 10 months in 20% new French oak, the majority going through MLF. 17.5+/20 Jul 2017 RRP $22.00
• Askerne ‘Reserve’ Hawkes’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Malbec 2015
  Blended Red from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 06-Jul-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim, youthful in appearance. The nose is softly full and voluminous with well-packed, fragrant aromas of ripe dark-red and black plum fruit, entwined with a harmonious amalgam of blackberries, cassis and spices, unveiling a suggestion of funky game nuances adding to the interest. Medium-full bodied, the palate has sweetly rich and ripe flavours of black plums, blackberries and spices, with liquorice elements. The flavours ae mouthfilling and form a concentrated heart with fine-grained tannin structure. The wine has good energy and linearity, with balanced acidity. The wine carries to a long, fine-textured finish with sweet and spicy black fruit. This is a sweetly rich and ripe Merlot/Cabernet-based blend with flavours of black plums, blackberries, liquorice and spices on a mouthfilling, fine-structured palate. Match with roasted and grilled game meat dishes over the next 7-10 years. A blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12.5% each of Cabernet Franc and Malbec from the lower terrace of the ‘Askerne’ vineyard, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 50% new French oak barriques. 18.5/20 Jul 2017 RRP $30.00