Dark red and garnet colour. An enticing aroma of dark chocolate and plum, with oak spice and dark fruits. Rich dark fruit and savoury flavours, combine with lovely spice from the French oak. Rich and lingering, with a firm yet elegant finish. All the hand picked fruit for this wine came from our vineyard in the Bendigo region of Central Otago. 2008 was an ideal vintage with stable warm weather, culminating in a dry harvest season. This wine was matured in French oak for 7 months, 30% of which was new.

This won a trophy at the latest Air New Zealand Wine Awards last week which coincided with my tasting of it last Thursday, although I only found out it was a winner this morning. I may or may not be going to the ANZWA trophy dinner tonight, depending on how things work out. Distinctly spicy, even a little peppery, with chocolate, dried herbs and plum - the overall effect being more than a little saucy. It’s medium bodied with sweet and sour flavours, firm tannin and hmm well a sort of spicy tangy acidity running through it.  A little rough and ready at this stage but I’d say the polish will go on sometime next year. Excellent value. Rated : 92 Points Tasted : Nov09 Alcohol : 14% Price : $26.99 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2010 - 2014 By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Champion Open Red Wine Trophy, Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Gold at the 2009 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Commended, Decanter Wine Awards UK

Probably the best 2008 in the tasting and definitely a wine to put in your cellar. It is earthy, ripe and fruity with deep concentrated flavours that have delicious chocolate and raisin characteristics. Great length and particularly well balanced. 4 Stars + CONSUMER'S CHOICE, TiZwine

Rich, flowing Bendigo red, hand-picked and French oak-matured. Sweet-fruited, slightly earthy and savoury, with impressive depth of cherryish, plummy flavour and good complexity. Best opened mid-2010+. $36.90 (A, UK) Michael Cooper's New Releases, May/June 2009, Winestate Magazine. 4.5 Stars, Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine