Very “Right Bank” Bordeaux-like with great texture and appealing fruit sweetness balanced by fine tannins. The 2009 is a blend of Merlot (70 per cent), Cabernet Franc (20 per cent) and Petit Verdot (10%), matured in French and American oak casks. An elegant rather than powerful red, it has considerable maturity, with a savoury, leathery, nutty complexity, a hint of herbs, and lots of current-drinking appeal.
St. Nesbit
St Nesbit started in 1980 when Tony and Petra Molloy purchased 11 hectares of land on the Hingaia peninsula. Planted in 1980, St Nesbit won acclaim from its first vintage in 1984, producing an elegant red wine that achieved classic status and won several gold medals. The vineyard lies in the shelter of the Drury Hills at Karaka, 30km south of Auckland, surrounded by an estuary on the Manukau Harbour.
St Nesbit was the first to import Petit Verdot into New Zealand from France in the late 1980s, after a long struggle with the New Zealand authorities. Since then it has proved itself by consistently producing intensely flavoured berries which add significant structure to their wine.
2007, 2008 and 2009 were very good vintages while he described 2010 as a “dream vintage”. They fared pretty well in the very challenging 2011 vintage thanks to a rigorous selection.
Bordeaux Red Blend
This is the most famous red blend of them all: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Just like in Bordeaux, where this blend originates from, you will almost always see Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot in the blend, too. Each grape brings its own special element to the overall wine be it acid, tannin, colour or aromatics.