Askerne Estate Dessert Cabernet 20151 × $18.90Subtotal: $18.90
New Zealand Red Wines are intense, expressive, complex, and powerful. There are three main blends found in New Zealand red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. Others, such as Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc are made here, although it is much less often. After the Hawkes Bay experienced success in the 1960s from McWilliams, and then again in the 1980s with Te Mata Estate, Red Wine production in New Zealand began to flourish. As techniques were developed and adapted for New Zealand’s climate, there was a rise in Merlot and Bordeaux-style grape planting that continues today.
The early production of reds such as Pinot noir was precarious in New Zealand due to its climate. However, after planting in the Central Otago region, the production of Pinot noir really took off. Many award winning Pinot noirs now come from this region, popular for its fruit-driven, forward, and early maturing in the bottle. New Zealand Pinot noirs are notable for their great complexity, with earthy and savory flavours. According to the Wine Encyclopedia, “New Zealand Pinot noir is rapidly developing its own distinctive style, often with deeper colour, purer fruit and higher alcohol… it is a testament to the skill and craft of New Zealand producers that poor examples are infrequently encountered.” New Zealand Red wine production is in high demand due to its distinctive flavour and quality.
Showing 1–16 of 105 results
Deep purple with purple hues. Perfumed on the nose with aromas of plum, cherry and violets, with Hints of mushroom, leather and spice. Sweet red and black cherry flavours show on the palate together with savoury mushroom and tobacco. A medium bodied, complex wine which has ample fine grained, mouth coating tannin and a long lingering finish.
Blue Gold Medal – Sydney Int Wine Comp 2014
Dark purple with purple hues. Dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit on the nose, with aromas of dried herbs, cloves and spicy oak. Sweet red and dark fruit on the palate, with some liquorice and spice. A medium bodied wine, showing complexity and good concentration, with supple, fine grained tannin and a long mineral finish.
Chocolate, spice and plum characters on the nose combine with sweet berry fruit, chocolate and marshmallow flavours supported by a grainy, spicy array of plum and raspberry on the palate. Delicious on its own or match with a decadent, dark chocolate based dessert or strong cheeses.
This complex blend showcases a great vintage on our Havelock North vineyard. Dark and brooding on the nose with black doris plum, aromatic jasmine and underlying mineral notes of graphite and tar. The palate is broad and soft with supple front palate tannins and soft vanilla oak enveloping the fruit. Drink now or cellar for 5-7 years.
4.5 STARS – Wine Orbit
4 STARS – Raymond Chan
GOLD – Hawkes Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards
SILVER – Air NZ Awards
Using traditional winemaking techniques for the Pinot Noir, has enabled us to produce a wine that expresses its sense of place. Soft red berry fruits along with toasty and savoury spice notes capture the aromatic profile. The palate is broad and silky smooth. Drink now or cellar for three to four years.
4 STARS – Raymond Chan
Pretty strawberry and cranberry characters dominate on the nose with delightful candyfloss and whipped cream notes. The palate is well balanced, softly structured and dry. Delicious drinking over the next year. Serve lightly chilled.
4 STARS – Wine Orbit
4 STARS – Raymond Chan
92/100 – Cameron Douglas
Aromatic and floral with hints of blueberry and white pepper. The palate is medium weight with a bright and crunchy texture with suggestions of cranberry and almond croissant. The finish is rich and smooth. Match with grilled meats especially when a spicy marinade is used.
4.5 STARS – Wine Orbit
Crimson is our selection of fruit from younger parcels of vines from our various vineyards on the Martinborough Terrace. 2016 marks 36 years on the land at Ata Rangi, our younger vines now aged from 5-20 years. In their youth, vines tend to be more fruit expressive, gaining more complexity with time. The 2016 very much shows a turning point from vibrant youth to tension and complexity that more mature vines bring. Aromatically this wine offers layers of flavours: violets, dark cherry and plum, notes of bitter chocolate and tobacco with a faint whiff of rabbit guts. There is a fresh vibrancy on the palate of acid and smooth tannins pulling the wine through to a long, salivating finish. Cellaring 5 to 10 years.
5 STARS – Sam Kim, July 2017
Only the oldest parcels of fruit are used in this, our premium Pinot Noir. The fabled Abel clone, allegedly smuggled from Burgundy in the mid-70s, makes up 40% of the blend. The result is a very complex, structured wine, beautifully perfumed in the classic Ata Rangi style. Exotic spice of star anise and sandalwood layer with dark cherry and rose petal on the nose. As is a hallmark of our Pinot, a savoury herbal note reminiscent of oregano offsets more overt fruit characters. The palate is bright, fluid and focused. Fine tannins build through the mid palate carrying the wine to a long elegant finish. Cellaring 10 to 20 years.
5 STARS – Bob Campbell MW, August 2017
5 STARS – Sam Kim, July 2017
5 STARS – Raymond Chan, October 2017
97 POINTS – Nick Scott, November 2017
96 POINTS – Cameron Douglas MS, August 2017
Mouth-filling, juicy and supple, it has concentrated, small red fruits, perfumes and spice flavours, with finely integrated oak adding complexity, and obvious cellaring potential; open 2019+. Appearance is deep garnet red.
Sweetly perfumed – clove and cinnamon backed up with dark plums, vanilla and a touch of cedar. Richly fruited. Plums and forest berries with savoury leather and cigar notes. Seamless and dense tannins add to the sense of warmth. Opulence nicely balanced with a red vibrancy and spice on the finish. This wine is a brilliant match for red meats, game and pasta dishes. A perfect partner for casseroled lamb shanks or with scotch fillet, roasted rare. Recommended cellaring 3-15 years.
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL China Wine & Spirits Awards 2017
94 POINTS Cameron Douglas MS, 2017
Aromas of wild herb and berry fruit with sweet, cherry flavours – lingering finish. Would go well with wild game or salmon.
GOLD MEDAL Global Pinot Noir Masters 2018
5 STARS – Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec Issue
Rich and elegant with gorgeous aromas of dark cherry, berry fruit and a hint of violets. The palate shows ripeness, depth and complexity combining layers of cherry and savoury characters.
GOLD MEDAL – Spiegelau International Wine Competition
5 STARS (93 points) – Sam Kim, Wine Writer
4.5 STARS – Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
4 STARS – Michael Cooper’s Guide to New Zealand Wines
4 STARS (92 points) – Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
Deeply coloured Merlot, aromas of dark plum and black currents. Rich on the palate displaying plum and spicy fruitcake characters.
Elegant displaying dark cherry, and savoury characters.
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