An elegant, seamless red with red and dark berry, Oriental spice/star anise and subtle floral flavours. A peacock’s tail of layered flavours is displayed on the finish. Subtle power and extraordinary length with a great mouthfeel and silken texture. It’s a restrained, elegant wine with great potential. Sophia has long ranked as one of my favourite NZ blended reds. 97 Points and 5 Stars, Bob Campbell MW for Gourmet Traveller Wine 2010

The 2008 Sophia is initially very closed on the nose with reluctant aromas of bilberry, black plum and a touch of cassis, later offering black olive and a hint of melted tar. The palate is underpinned by a firm tannic backbone, quite broody and uncompromising at first but delivering a scintillating, saline finish with crisp blackberry and boysenberry with great minerality." - 94 Points, Neal Martin for Robert Parker's THe Wine Advocate, 2010

Brilliant deep ruby red in colour, the nose was tightly bound but beautifully aromatic with plush, sleek dark plum and savoury red fruits along with a new oak lift. On palate, the wine was still restrained, needing to open up, but clearly showing lovely sweet, ripe flavours of red and dark plums, red flowers, all within a fine-grained, tightly packed structure. Excellent fresh acidity added to the vibrancy. A wine that will develop silken textures with fragrance and cedar over the next 12-15 years.” - 18.5 Points, Raymond Chan, 2010

Bold and youthful in colour, it is highly fragrant, with blackcurrant, spice and coffee aromas. Mouthfilling and dense, yet supple, it is richly flavoured, with fine-grained tannins, and lovely texture and richness. Drink now or cellar. 5 Stars * * * * * Michael Cooper