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BabichHawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet
Carefully selected and harvested from our estate-owned vineyards throughout the Hawke’s Bay region, Merlot imparts tender, fresh berry characteristics whilst the more robust Cabernet Sauvignon fruit provides dark plum and smooth, rounded tannins. The result is a full-flavoured dry red wine with easy drinking appeal.
Warm and exuberant nose of plum, boysenberry, raspberry and raisins. Integrated oak with touches of vanilla and cedar and also leather. Enticing.
Warm and opulent. Ripe fruits - plums, blackberry - along with cinnamon and chocolate notes. Mouth filling, soft and fresh with fine tannins and lingering red liquorice.
Warm and opulent. Ripe fruits - plums, blackberry - along with cinnamon and chocolate notes. Mouth filling, soft and fresh with fine tannins and lingering red liquorice.
The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon /Merlot / Malbec blend were fermented on skins to extract colour and tannin. The blend was assembled and the wine then spent a minimum of 4 months with oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salami and smoked meats, or any meaty casserole, like lamb shanks.
Our Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet has dark and sweetly fruited aromas with leather, spice and a touch of blackcurrant and mint. Good volume and weight on entry with chocolate, plum and blueberry. Well but softly structured dry red wine with a light cedar note on the lingering finish.
The grapes for this Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend were fermented on skins to extract colour and tannin. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further 16 months with oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salami and smoked meats, or any meaty casserole, like lamb shanks.
90 POINTS - JamesSuckling.com, Jan 2021
90 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2021
"Rich red plums and some leafy notes, as well as a blackcurrant edge. The palate has rich, sweet blackcurrant flavors, fine and easy tannins and a sweetly spiced finish."
90 POINTS - JamesSuckling.com, Jan 2021
90 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2021
"Rich red plums and some leafy notes, as well as a blackcurrant edge. The palate has rich, sweet blackcurrant flavors, fine and easy tannins and a sweetly spiced finish."
90 POINTS - JamesSuckling.com, Jan 2021
Deeply coloured, with berry, plum,and spice flavours - well rounded finish.
The grapes for this Hawke's Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend were fermented on skins to extract colour and tannin. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further twelve months with oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salami and smoked meats, or any meaty casserole, like lamb shanks.
SILVER MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2019
"Full-coloured and mouthfilling, this fresh, vibrant red has good depth of berryish, slightly spicy flavours, savoury, nutty notes adding complexity and a smooth finish."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov 2019 issue
"Full-coloured and mouthfilling, this fresh, vibrant red has good depth of berryish, slightly spicy flavours, savoury, nutty notes adding complexity and a smooth finish."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov 2019 issue
Aromas of leather, plum and spice with vanilla and berry fruits and a hint of cigar-box. The palate is well fruited - sweet black plum, a bit of fruit cake and brambly red notes also. Softly textured with good length and a spicy finish.
The grapes for this Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet were fermented in stainless steel tank with frequent pump-overs and plungings to ensure good colour and tannin extraction. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further six months with oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salami and smoked meats; or any meaty casserole, such as lamb shanks.
TROPHY - Champion Export Wine - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2018
GOLD MEDAL - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2018
SILVER MEDAL - Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards 2017
SILVER MEDAL - International Wine Challenge China 2019
90 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2018
GOLD MEDAL - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2018
SILVER MEDAL - Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards 2017
SILVER MEDAL - International Wine Challenge China 2019
90 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2018
This wine offers tastes of dark plum, blueberry and an earthy spice followed by a touch of vanilla. Blackberry burst leads on to Doris plum in this Merlot Cabernet, with lingering sweet cedar and fruit cake notes. Concentrated fruits and densely structured.
The grapes for this Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet were fermented in stainless steel tank with frequent pump-overs and plungings to ensure good colour and tannin extraction. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further six months with oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salamis and smoked meats; or any meaty casserole, such as lamb shanks.
92 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout FMCG, July 2016
4 STARS - TOP VALUE - Lauren Swift, WineNZ magazine, Winter 2017 issue
SILVER MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2017
"Rich, ripe and distinctive - no mistaking the fruit concentration with and equal amount of oak driving the bouquet; dark plums, blackcurrant and even dark cherry aromas; mix of fresh and older oak with cinnamon and clove tones, quite complex overall. On the palate - Fruity, firm, youthful and dry, flavours of dark berries and plums, medium acidity and bold tannins, ripe balanced, lengthy and well made."
92 POINTS -Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout/FMCG Business magazine, July 2016
"Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is tightly bound with concentrated aromas of blackberry fruit, red plums and redcurrants, along with dark herbal elements and mint. The fruit is uncomplicated and primary in expression. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, this has a good core of blackberry fruits frith blackcurrants and herbal notes adding interest. The fruit is pure and focussed and flows following a slender line, carried by fine, grainy tannins and fresh, balanced acidity, leading to a slim, firmly bound finish of currants and herbs. This is a slender Merlot/Cabernet with blackberried and blackcurrant fruits, herbs and a fine grainy structure."
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, July 2016
"It is elegantly fruited on the nose displaying dark plum, spiced cherry, game and dried herb characters. The palate is nicely weighted and brightly flavoured with fine texture and chalky tannins. A friendly middle-weight red offering pristine fruit flavours with a pleasing dry finish."
-Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, July 2016
"Medium-bodied, ruby-hued blend with good depth of plum, spice and herb flavours, some savoury oak, and an early-drinking appeal."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2016 issue
"Ripe, very fruity and very engaging bouquet with dark plum, black berry, violets and sweet toasty oak, youthful and primary. On the palate – juicy, fresh, loads of fruity and toasty oak, fine to moderate tannins, medium+ acidity, balanced and lengthy."
-Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, The Shout FMCG, Dec/Jan 2017
"Fruity with liquorice. Light, bright. Easy drinking. Full fruit and mid palate. Red fruit. A high drinkability factor.”
4 STARS, TOP VALUE -Lauren Swift, WineNZ magazine, Winter 2017 issue
4 STARS - TOP VALUE - Lauren Swift, WineNZ magazine, Winter 2017 issue
SILVER MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2017
"Rich, ripe and distinctive - no mistaking the fruit concentration with and equal amount of oak driving the bouquet; dark plums, blackcurrant and even dark cherry aromas; mix of fresh and older oak with cinnamon and clove tones, quite complex overall. On the palate - Fruity, firm, youthful and dry, flavours of dark berries and plums, medium acidity and bold tannins, ripe balanced, lengthy and well made."
92 POINTS -Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout/FMCG Business magazine, July 2016
"Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is tightly bound with concentrated aromas of blackberry fruit, red plums and redcurrants, along with dark herbal elements and mint. The fruit is uncomplicated and primary in expression. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, this has a good core of blackberry fruits frith blackcurrants and herbal notes adding interest. The fruit is pure and focussed and flows following a slender line, carried by fine, grainy tannins and fresh, balanced acidity, leading to a slim, firmly bound finish of currants and herbs. This is a slender Merlot/Cabernet with blackberried and blackcurrant fruits, herbs and a fine grainy structure."
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, July 2016
"It is elegantly fruited on the nose displaying dark plum, spiced cherry, game and dried herb characters. The palate is nicely weighted and brightly flavoured with fine texture and chalky tannins. A friendly middle-weight red offering pristine fruit flavours with a pleasing dry finish."
-Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, July 2016
"Medium-bodied, ruby-hued blend with good depth of plum, spice and herb flavours, some savoury oak, and an early-drinking appeal."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2016 issue
"Ripe, very fruity and very engaging bouquet with dark plum, black berry, violets and sweet toasty oak, youthful and primary. On the palate – juicy, fresh, loads of fruity and toasty oak, fine to moderate tannins, medium+ acidity, balanced and lengthy."
-Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, The Shout FMCG, Dec/Jan 2017
"Fruity with liquorice. Light, bright. Easy drinking. Full fruit and mid palate. Red fruit. A high drinkability factor.”
4 STARS, TOP VALUE -Lauren Swift, WineNZ magazine, Winter 2017 issue
The nose is brimming with blackberries, blackcurrants and forest fruits, which are joined by plum and tasty savoury notes. Liquorish and spice aromas intermingle perfectly in this Merlot Cabernet. The palate is sweet and abundantly fruitful on entry, developing complex savoury notes that mingle delightfully with the fruit. Gentle oak supports layers of cocoa and leather. The tannins are soft, the weight full-ish and the finish of this wine is long with lingering dark berry fruits.
The grapes for this Merlot Cabernet were fermented in stainless steel tank with frequent pump-overs and plungings to ensure good colour and tannin extraction. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further six months in oak prior to bottling.
The Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet is the ideal partner for an antipasto platter featuring a range of salamis and smoked meats; or any meaty casserole, such as lamb shanks.
GOLD MEDAL - China Wines & Spirits Awards 2016
"A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit two-thirds from the Gimblett Gravels and one-third from the company’s new Redmetals vineyard, the wine fermented to 13.0% alc., with 20% of the wine aged 6-10 months in barrel. Very dark, black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is softly concentrated with a deep and tightly bound core of ripe black berry and plum fruits with subtle earth and mineral elements and nutty oak. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, finely concentrated, ripe black and red berry fruits intermingle with spicy plum and nutty oak flavours. This is rich and sweet, the fruit balanced by fine-grained tannins at the heart. The structure and line carry the wine to a lingering finish with plums, boysenberries and redcurrants. This is an elegantly concentrated, fine-textured Merlot and Cabernet blend with sweet plum and berry fruit and spicy interest."
4 STARS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
"A bouquet full of juicy reminders of plum, black cherry and wild blueberry and violets; mild oak and complexity. On the palate – dry, firm and youthful with flavors of red plum, black plum and dark berries – all laced with mildly spiced toasty oak and vanilla; medium tannins and crisp acidity."
-Cameron Douglas MZ, NZ Liquor News/FMCG Business magazine, Feb 2015
"Nutty, spicy and flavoursome, in a tightly structured style with fresh, ripe fruit characters and a firm finish."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2015
"A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit two-thirds from the Gimblett Gravels and one-third from the company’s new Redmetals vineyard, the wine fermented to 13.0% alc., with 20% of the wine aged 6-10 months in barrel. Very dark, black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is softly concentrated with a deep and tightly bound core of ripe black berry and plum fruits with subtle earth and mineral elements and nutty oak. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, finely concentrated, ripe black and red berry fruits intermingle with spicy plum and nutty oak flavours. This is rich and sweet, the fruit balanced by fine-grained tannins at the heart. The structure and line carry the wine to a lingering finish with plums, boysenberries and redcurrants. This is an elegantly concentrated, fine-textured Merlot and Cabernet blend with sweet plum and berry fruit and spicy interest."
4 STARS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
"A bouquet full of juicy reminders of plum, black cherry and wild blueberry and violets; mild oak and complexity. On the palate – dry, firm and youthful with flavors of red plum, black plum and dark berries – all laced with mildly spiced toasty oak and vanilla; medium tannins and crisp acidity."
-Cameron Douglas MZ, NZ Liquor News/FMCG Business magazine, Feb 2015
"Nutty, spicy and flavoursome, in a tightly structured style with fresh, ripe fruit characters and a firm finish."
-Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2015
This Merlot Cabernet has aromas of black and redcurrants. The wine is light-medium bodied, with flavours of redcurrants and blackcurrant combined with herb and oak spice. Good balance.
The grapes for this Merlot Cabernet were fermented in stainless steel tank with frequent pump-overs and plungings to ensure good colour and tannin extraction. The blend was assembled and the wine spent a further six months in oak prior to bottling.
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL - China Best Value Wine & Spirits Awards 2014
4.5 STARS - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz, Jan 2015
"The 2013 vintage offers fine value. Grown in the Irongate Vineyard and oak matured for six months, it is a deeply coloured, full-bodied red, packed and youthful, ripe, plummy, spicy flavour. Showing excellent vibrancy, depth and structure, it should mature well."
4 STARS -Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
"We hear that 2013 was a cracker vintage in all parts of New Zealand, and if this wine is the shape of things to come, we’re in for a treat. Violet, dusty oak, plum, coffee. Medium bodied, ripe fleshy toothsome tannin, perfumed and fresh in the mouth – perky and ripe, but not overly so. Mesh of oak, fruit and tannin is spot on. Energy and charm. Will likely do a bit of bottle age. Excellent!"
- Gary Walsh, www.winefrontnz.com., 11 Feb 2014
"Very dark, near impenetrable black-hued, purple-red, very youthful. The bouquet is firmly intense with aromas of ripe dark raspberry fruit, along with blackcurrants and cassis, revealing a little fresh herb nuance. This is fruit-driven and showing lovely varietal clarity, without noticeable oak intrusion. Light-medium bodied, mild raspberry and redcurrant fruit flavours are supported by supple, delicately grainy tannins, and softly ripe, fresh acidity. The flavours are up-front, forward and primary, with a little robust extraction providing good mouthfeel, texture and weight. The wine carries to a dry, granular finish with some length. This is an up-front, grainy, light red with redcurrant and raspberry fruitiness. Serve with pasta, pizza, barbecued food and most red meat dishes over the next 4 years."
4 STARS, 17/20 POINTS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondhanwinereviews.co.nz , March 2014
"Grown in the Irongate Vineyard and oak-matured for six months, this is a deeply coloured, full-bodied red, packed with youthful, ripe, plummy, spicy flavour. Showing excellent vibrancy, depth and structure, it should mature well. Fine value."
4 STARS -Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2014 issue
"Brightly flavoured and fragrant, showing dark plum, blueberry, floral and subtle mixed spice notes. It's succulent and flavoursome on the palate with silky texture and rounded mouthfeel, wrapped in fine, gently dying tannins. Very attractive and immediately appealing."
4.5 STARS -Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz, Jan 2015
"Attractive, vibrant red with juicy berry flavours and crisp acidity that give it a Chianti-like character. There’s also a hint of floral and black pepper adding extra interest. Good red offering value at this price."
4 STARS -Bob Campbell, www.bobcampbell.nz
"Medium garnet-purple, the 2013 Classics Range Merlot/Cabernet has a pleasantly plummy nose with some blackberries, pencil lead and baking spices. Medium Bodied, a little hard and lean in the mouth with a medium to long simple finish."
-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, eRobertParker.com, #216 (Part 2) Jan 2015
4.5 STARS - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz, Jan 2015
"The 2013 vintage offers fine value. Grown in the Irongate Vineyard and oak matured for six months, it is a deeply coloured, full-bodied red, packed and youthful, ripe, plummy, spicy flavour. Showing excellent vibrancy, depth and structure, it should mature well."
4 STARS -Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
"We hear that 2013 was a cracker vintage in all parts of New Zealand, and if this wine is the shape of things to come, we’re in for a treat. Violet, dusty oak, plum, coffee. Medium bodied, ripe fleshy toothsome tannin, perfumed and fresh in the mouth – perky and ripe, but not overly so. Mesh of oak, fruit and tannin is spot on. Energy and charm. Will likely do a bit of bottle age. Excellent!"
- Gary Walsh, www.winefrontnz.com., 11 Feb 2014
"Very dark, near impenetrable black-hued, purple-red, very youthful. The bouquet is firmly intense with aromas of ripe dark raspberry fruit, along with blackcurrants and cassis, revealing a little fresh herb nuance. This is fruit-driven and showing lovely varietal clarity, without noticeable oak intrusion. Light-medium bodied, mild raspberry and redcurrant fruit flavours are supported by supple, delicately grainy tannins, and softly ripe, fresh acidity. The flavours are up-front, forward and primary, with a little robust extraction providing good mouthfeel, texture and weight. The wine carries to a dry, granular finish with some length. This is an up-front, grainy, light red with redcurrant and raspberry fruitiness. Serve with pasta, pizza, barbecued food and most red meat dishes over the next 4 years."
4 STARS, 17/20 POINTS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondhanwinereviews.co.nz , March 2014
"Grown in the Irongate Vineyard and oak-matured for six months, this is a deeply coloured, full-bodied red, packed with youthful, ripe, plummy, spicy flavour. Showing excellent vibrancy, depth and structure, it should mature well. Fine value."
4 STARS -Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2014 issue
"Brightly flavoured and fragrant, showing dark plum, blueberry, floral and subtle mixed spice notes. It's succulent and flavoursome on the palate with silky texture and rounded mouthfeel, wrapped in fine, gently dying tannins. Very attractive and immediately appealing."
4.5 STARS -Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz, Jan 2015
"Attractive, vibrant red with juicy berry flavours and crisp acidity that give it a Chianti-like character. There’s also a hint of floral and black pepper adding extra interest. Good red offering value at this price."
4 STARS -Bob Campbell, www.bobcampbell.nz
"Medium garnet-purple, the 2013 Classics Range Merlot/Cabernet has a pleasantly plummy nose with some blackberries, pencil lead and baking spices. Medium Bodied, a little hard and lean in the mouth with a medium to long simple finish."
-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, eRobertParker.com, #216 (Part 2) Jan 2015
