Red Barrel – Wine2Trade Portfolio

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Red Barrel Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015
  Merlot from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 07-Nov-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with good depth, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is a little restrained but unfolds to show good depth and fruit focus, with softly packed, harmoniously interwoven aromas of dark-red and black berry and plum fruit with nuances of dark herbs, a hint of tobacco and nutty oak suggestions. Medium-full bodied, the palate has a rich and positive heart of gently sweet dark-red and black berry fruit with earthy plums and dark herbal elements with a little florality emerging. The fruit is supported by moderately grainy tannin extraction lending structure and grip, with lacy acidity lending freshness and energy to the mouthfeel. The wine carries to an elegant finish. This is a sweetly rich Merlot with dark-red berry and plum flavours, and subtle herb notes on a grainy textured palate with freshness. Match with roasted red meats over the next 5-6 years. 100% Merlot from the ‘Red Barrel’ home vineyard, hand-picked and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine spending 27 days on skins and aged 18 months in tank and 15% new French oak, blended and given a further 6 months in tank. 17.5+/20 Nov 2018 RRP $25.00 Disclaimer: This wine is distributed by ‘Wine2Trade’, the company under which ‘Raymond Chan Wine Reviews’ operates
• Red Barrel ‘Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
  Syrah from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  A barrel selection wine. Fruit from the ‘House’ block of the Red Barrel vineyard, Havelock North, hand-picked and fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour, lighter edged. This has a full and powerful nose with concentrated aromas of ripe, opulent and vibrant blackberry and black plum fruit interwoven with layers of exotic spices, black pepper and toasty oak. Medium-full bodied, the flavours of black berried and plummy fruit flavours are ripe and exude decadence, and are elegantly concentrated forming a strong and rich core, unfolding layers of exotic Asian spices, black pepper, liquorice and toasty oak. The mouthfeel is opulent and vibrant, the acidity providing vitality and freshness, and refined tannins lend a smooth, supple flow. The fruit sweetness and succulence is beautifully balanced by the extraction which carries the wine to a very long and sustained finish of plums, spices and liquorice. This is an elegantly concentrated, vibrantly luscious Syrah with exotic plum, spice and oak flavours and a fine-grained, smooth flowing palate. Serve with slow-cooked game meat dishes over the next 8-10+ years. 50 dozen made. 19.0-/20 Sep 2015 RRP $58.00 Disclaimer: This wine is distributed by ‘Wine2Trade’, the company under which ‘Raymond Chan Wine Reviews’ operates