Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2018

Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2018"Seductively complex and enticing, the wine shows cassis, tobacco, warm spice and cedar characters on the nose, followed by a sumptuous palate that's both firmly structured and refined. It's beautifully layered with delectable flavours and silky texture, finishing persistent and robust. At its best: now to 2033" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec 2023 "Deep ruby red with some bricking, lighter on the rim. This has a generous, opulent bouquet with aromas of

"Seductively complex and enticing, the wine shows cassis, tobacco, warm spice and cedar characters on the nose, followed by a sumptuous palate that's both firmly structured and refined. It's beautifully layered with delectable flavours and silky texture, finishing persistent and robust. At its best: now to 2033" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec 2023

"Deep ruby-red with some bricking, lighter on the rim. This has a generous, opulent bouquet with aromas of leather, cedar, dried violet, an amalgam of spice, underlying plum, cassis and blackberry. Full-bodied, aromas of plum, cassis and blackberry enriched by layers of nutmeg, cloves, leather and cedar. Fine-grained ripe tannins provide structure and an opulent mouthfeel. The fruit, acidity and oak are integrated harmoniously, lending a long, rich finish. This Merlot Cabernet shows beautifully with generous flavours and layers in harmony, well-structured and robust" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Jan 2024

"From estate vineyards in Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa. Concentrated wine with plum, dark berry, liquorice, sweet herbs and nutty oak flavours. It delivers plenty for the price" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Mar 2021

"Great colour matched by the intensity of the bouquet and impact on the palate with flavours of roasted Doris plums and black currant then baking spices of cinnamon and clove. As the wine opens out on the palate the flavours evolve adding in black currant, dried herbs and a touch of chocolate and cigar. Medium intensity tannins, polished and fine, medium+ acid line and oak flavours to match with some smoky highlights. Well made, aged and ready to drink from day of purchase through 2027" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Dec 2023

Elephant Hill produces handcrafted, small batch, artisanal wines from a blend of up to three sustainably farmed Hawke's Bay vineyards that each contributes a distinctive elemental character: SEA, EARTH & STONE.

The 2018 vintage will be remembered as one which was consistently warmer day to day than previous years. Not that temperatures were necessarily higher, it was more a sense of milder conditions overall throughout the whole season, rather than the suffering extremes. The result was much earlier vine growth and easonal development which produced excellent high-quality fruit.

Handpicked Merlot (86%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (9%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) grown in our warmer, inland sites of the STONE vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels and our EARTH vineyard in Bridge Pa Triangle. Small batch fermented and mature for 22 months in French barriques (35% new oak). Bottled without fining.