VINEYARDS Parcels of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were hand-picked from selected sites on the  gravel soils of the old Ngaruroro River, and old vine Merlot from the Bridge Pa region.  Bridge Pa Triangle soils feature fine silt loam over red metal gravels, while the gravel sites protected by Roys Hill, feature gravel over fine silt. These sites are free draining and low in fertility, resulting in struggling vines producing fruit of great concentration. Low yielding vines, open canopy management, managed irrigation and Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand farmed were common to all sites. Bridge Pa Merlot delivers ripe, dark plums which compliments the spicy brighter fruits from the gravels. Cabernet thrives on gravel sites and contributes structure, acidity and fragrant berry fruit notes. 

WINEMAKING Batches of hand harvested fruit was chilled overnight before processing the following day. Chilled bunches were hand sorted and de-stemmed, and whole berries were transferred to open fermenters with some foot stomping. Whole bunches were also incorporated in some of the Merlot fermenters. The berries were cold soaked before fermentation, with pumping over twice per day then pressed to barriques at the  end of fermentation. The Merlot and Cabernet matured for 21 months in new and  seasoned French oak barriques. Blended in December 2019 and bottled in January  2020, the final blend is approximately 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

SENSORY An elegant Merlot Cabernet blend which exhibits lifted aromatics of fragrant  berry fruits, sweet French oak, and underlying lavender and thyme. Complex and  textural, seamless tannins harmoniously support red and black fruits, earthiness,  and spice. Tautly poised to develop beautifully with bottle age.

Château d'Armailhac is a wine estate in the Pauillac appellation of the Médoc. As Mouton d'Armailhac, it was ranked as a fifth growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Improvements in quality in recent decades mean that it is now regarded as one of Pauillac's best-value wines.

Neal Martin Rating 91

"The 2009 Château d'Armailhac has a lovely nose, the Cabernet Sauvignon component more expressive compared to my previous encounter, graphite infusing the generous black fruit that is in keeping with the style. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of cherry liqueur and spice on the entry, the Merlot in the driving seat with good acidity and a lively, spicy finish with tobacco, hickory and black pepper on the aftertaste. It is a delicious d'Armailhac that is just about ready to rock 'n roll. Tasted August 2016."

Drink Date 2018 - 2032

Indulge in the Rich Flavors of McGuigan Private Bin Cabernet Merlot 2021

At McGuigan, we believe that wine is more than just a drink - it's a way of life. Our family-owned winery has been crafting exceptional wines for over 100 years, and we're proud to continue that tradition with our latest release: the McGuigan Private Bin Cabernet Merlot 2022.

This exquisite red wine perfectly blends soft and velvety Merlot grapes and the more powerful Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The result is a luscious wine with a deep crimson colour and a complex bouquet of blackcurrant, mint, spiced fruit, cinnamon, and vanilla flavours.

Our winemaking process is steeped in tradition, focusing on sustainability and quality. We carefully select only the finest grapes from our vineyards, and our winemakers use time-honoured techniques to create a wine that truly captures the essence of our terroir.

When it comes to food pairings, the McGuigan Private Bin Cabernet Merlot 2022 is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Try it with grilled meats, hearty stews, or even a rich chocolate dessert.

Highlights:
- Crafted by a family-owned winery with over 100 years of experience
- A blend of soft and velvety Merlot and powerful Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
- Deep crimson colour with a complex bouquet of flavours
- Traditional winemaking process with a focus on sustainability and quality
- Versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes

Tasting notes:

Brilliant garnet red color. The nose reveals nice aromas of ripe fruits (strawberry, blackberry) with delicate coffee notes. Harmonious and elegant on the palate, offering a round structure, full of red and black berries.

Food matches:

Red meat, poultry, pasta and cheese.

Winemaking: Optimum ripeness of the grapes - de-stalking and crushing of the grapes – a part of the harvest benefits from a “flash détente” process to enhance an optimum level of color and fruity aromas – the other part follows a traditional alcoholic fermentation in vats with 2 rack and return per day.

Soil: Coming from different regions of the Languedoc (The Aude, the Herault and the Gard) where each offers a different type of soil (schist, marls, chalk and clay).
Climate: The hot and windy Mediterranean climate, along with the interesting diversity in the soils of these 3 areas, result in powerful and fruity wines.
Aging: Long maceration (3 weeks) with micro oxygenation before malolactic fermentation in vats to develop the color and to supple the tannins.

Formerly known as the 'Reserve d'Angludet', this is the ‘Second Wine’ produced by Chateau Angludet with the younger vines on the estate and made in the same way as the flagship estate wine.

Chateau Angludet has a long history dating back to the 12th century situated in the Margaux plateau surrounded by Grand Cru Classes.

Made of a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot on deep gravel and pebble soils. Aged in French oak barrels.

Youthful bouquet that opens gradually to offer up a rich palate of wild fruit, violets, blackberry, blackcurrant and plum. Smooth palate, with fruit plumpness to the moderate tannins and a hint of toastiness.

Traditional vinification is carried out in cement vats. Vatting lasts for between 20 and 30 days, depending on the vintage and, after the malolactic fermentation, the wines go into barrel (one-third renewed every year) and remain there for 12 months. The final selection of which wines will go to make the final blend for Château Angludet is made in the following February or March. The process of selection is strict (as only the best wines can be included) and is done by a series of tastings. Once the final blend has been done, the wine is fined with egg whites and very lightly filtered before bottling. Drink 2023-2035.

This is a classic Chardonnay with notes of peach and melon and just a hint of oak. 

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carm?n?re and Malbec showing classical Bordeaux aromas and flavours of red fruit, earth, spice and leather. The palate is weighty yet fresh and accessible, and shows superb complexity and structure

Commercial description

Our Merlot Cabernet Franc comes from our Cornerstone vineyard growing in Hawke's Bays' famed Gimblett Gravels appellation. An area renowned for producing excellent hot climate reds. We think Cornerstone is the jewel in the appellation's crown but there again we are rather biased!

In our Iris blend, the Merlot sets up the palate with ripeness and structure while the Cabernet Franc brings its sweet dried basil notes to create our deliciously good medium-bodied red

Chateau Larroque is based just outside the 'Graves' appellation in the southern part of Bordeaux.  Made from the classic blend of Bordeaux grapes, and matured for 12 months in French oak before further aging in bottle.

On first opening, medium bodied on the palate, red cherry and dried fruits, toasted almonds with dusty savoury bramble and spice. Once given a chance to breathe opens up to offer generous plump juicy dark fruits, cassis and liquorice.

Superb value for 'left bank' Bordeaux.