Mission ‘Estate’ 2017 Pinot Gris, 2016 Pinot Noir, Merlot and 2015 Merlot/Cabernet, and ‘Barrique Reserve’ Cabernet/Merlot 2015

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Mission Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 07-Dec-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour with slight lemon-gold hues, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh and voluminous with rich aromas of ripe yellow stonefruits and exotic yellow florals with honied elements. A little mineral nuance unfolds, lending detail. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has restrained flavours of yellow stonefruits and subtle notes of exotic florals and honied nuances. The fruit is refreshing with bright acidity enlivening the palate, and the wine flows along a taut, light-textured line leading to a honied finish. This is a voluminous and aromatic dryish Pinot Gris with exotic stonefruit and floral flavours with honeysuckle notes on a fresh, but restrained palate. Match with Asian and Middle Eastern fare over the next 2-3 years. Fruit from the company’s Blind River vineyard cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 13.1% alc. and 9 g/L RS. 17.0/20 Dec 2017 RRP $16.00
• Mission Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 07-Dec-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately deep ruby-red colour, lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly concentrated with aromas of savoury dark-red cherry and berry fruit with some fresh and dried herb notes, a little game and undergrowth detail intermixed with fragrant red florals. Medium-full bodied, the palate has light and balanced, lively flavours of dark-red cherry and berry fruit with soft notes of dark and dried herbs. The palate is fruit-focussed, unfolding a layer of savoury undergrowth elements. The flavours are up-front and supported by light, supple tannins enabling accessibility with fresh, lacy acidity. The wine carries to a light, lingering finish of red fruits and herbs. This is an elegant, up-front, fruit-focussed Pinot Noir with savoury dark-red cherry and berry fruit, and fresh herbal notes on a supple palate. Match with antipasto, poultry and pork dishes over the next 3+ years, Fruit from the ‘Cable Station Road’ block in the company’s Awatere Valley vineyard fermented to 13.8% alc., the wine spending 14 days on skins post ferment and bottled without oak contact. 17.0-/20 Dec 2017 RRP $16.00
• Mission Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2016
  Merlot from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 07-Dec-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim, and youthful in appearance. The nose is firmly packed with an elegant core of dark-red berry fruit with notes of redcurrants, fresh herbs and subtle cassis elements. The aromatics show depth. Medium-full bodied, the palate has a firm heart of sweet fruit flavours of dark-red berry fruit, redcurrants and dark herbs. The fruit is underlined by light, grainy tannin textures with integrated acidity. The fruit forms a concentrated core and line that carries to a fine, lingering finish. This is a firmly packed, elegant Merlot with dark-red berry fruit, with redcurrant and herb notes on a fine-textured palate. Match with barbecued and grilled red meat dishes over the next 3-4 years. 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon from sites in Ohiti Road, the Bridge Pa Triangle and the Gimblett Gravels, fermented to 13.6% alc., the wine spending 7-20 days on skins post ferment and aged in tank. 16.5+/20 Dec 2017 RRP $16.00
• Mission Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
  Blended Red from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 07-Dec-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately dark, deep ruby-red colour with black hues, lighter on the rim. This has a softly full bouquet of ripe, dark red and black plum fruit forming a firm core, revealing a heart of blackberries, blackcurrants, iron-earth minerals and some aromatic oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate has sweet flavours of savoury dark plums harmoniously entwined with blackcurrant and blackberry fruity, with notes of dark herbs, iron-earth minerals and sweet, nutty oak. The fruit sweetness is enlivened by fresh, lacy acidity, and the wine flows along a soft-textured line, leading to a sustained finish of blackberries, redcurrants and plums. This is an elegant Merlo/Cabernet blend with harmoniously interwoven flavours of blackberries, blackcurrants and dark plums, and subtle notes of herbs and nutty oak on a fresh, but soft-textured palate. Serve with roasted lamb, beef and venison over the next 3-4+ years. A blend of 53% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec, from vineyards, primarily on Ohiti Road and some from the Gimblett Gravels, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged in tank. 17.5-/20 Dec 2017 RRP $16.00
• Mission ‘Barrique Reserve’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot 2015
  Blended Red from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 07-Dec-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, near impenetrable black-hued ruby-red colour with slight purple hues, lighter edged. The nose is full with rich and deeply packed aromas of ripe blackberries and blackcurrants with dark herb and iron-earth complexities. This has freshness and aromatic brightness. Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and lusciously sweet flavours of blackberries and blackcurrants with ripe black plum fruit. The palate is stylish and restrained, but possesses real depth, intensity and concentration. The fruit is lively and vibrant, and harmoniously melded with spicy oak notes, along with dark herbs and minerals. The flavours are underlined by fine-grained tannin extraction providing considerable powdery textures and grip. The structure carries the sweet and luscious fruit to an elegant, long-lingering and nuanced finish. This is a rich and lusciously sweet-fruited Cabernet/Merlot with blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum fruit with herb, mineral and nutty elements on a fine-grained, well-structured palate. Match with roasted lamb, beef and venison, and semi-hard cheeses over the next 10+ years. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot from the Gimblett Gravels, the latter from the company’s Mere Road vineyard, fermented to 13.8% alc., the wine on skins 14 days post ferment, and aged 12 months in 44% new French oak barriques. 19.0-/20 Dec 2017 RRP $29.00Full, very dark, near impenetrable black-hued red colour with purple hues on the rim. This has a very tight, elegant and refined, but intensely penetrating nose of ripe blackcurrant fruit and cassis liqueur, along with dark herbs, piquant mint and leaf notes. This is classical Cabernet Sauvignon in expression. Medium-full bodied, the palate has great concentration and intensity, with deeply penetrating flavours of ripe blackcurrants and cassis, entwined with subtle herb and delicate leaf notes. The mouthfeel is fresh, bright, vibrant and full of energy, with fine-grained tannin extraction providing plenty of grip and structure. The wine carries to a long, lively and refreshing finish. This is a concentrated intense and penetrating Cabernet/Merlot blend with pure blackcurrant and cassis fruit with classical herb elements, and a palate with plenty of extraction and grip. This will keep 10-12+ years. A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot fermented to 13.8% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 27% new French oak. 19.0-/20 Sep 2017 RRP $29.00