Wine Orbit 5 Stars PLUS - Hatton Estate

The Doctor Syrah 2005 Hawke’s Bay ***** 95
This is an exceptional Syrah. Medium-deep red/purple colour, bright youthful fruit characters of ripe blueberries, plums and floral notes with a touch of white pepper. The palate is amazing. It’s lush and opulent with excellent concentration of fruit, beautiful silky texture and great line and length. It’s pure and pristine without overripe fruit characters and has perfectly extracted tannins giving superb structure. Already a delicious drink but with a long future ahead. At its best: now to 2014.

The Doctor Syrah 2006 Hawke’s Bay ***** 94-96
This wine may turn out to be even better than the exceptional 2005 The Doctor Syrah. It has just been bottled so not at its best state but the unmistakable greatness is there. Inky red/purple colour, haunting aromas of ripe plums, blueberries and sweet vanilla oak. The palate starts with an impressive, concentrated fruit sweetness; a luxurious silky texture through the mid range; then bright acidity and firm tannins kick in to put everything into a wonderfully structured frame. The length of flavour is outstanding. At its best: 2008 to 2016. Limited availability – about 160 cases made.

Reserve Cabernet Merlot Franc 2004 Hawke’s Bay ***** 92
The wine is medium deep red/purple in colour displaying ripe red/black berries with earthy/savoury complexity. Beautifully ripe fruit characters on the palate with well balanced acidity and firm tannins. An impressive wine with bold flavours and excellent structure. Still evolving and should develop more complexity with time. At its best: now to 2010.

Reserve Cabernet Merlot Franc 2005 Hawke’s Bay ***** 93
A beautifully polished wine with excellent potential. The wine exhibits medium-deep red/purple colour with ripe dark plums, blackberries and gentle oak on the nose. The palate is pristine and very well structured with balanced acidity and firm tannins. Nicely weighted, not heavy or cloying, with a very fine finish. At its best: 2008 to 2012.

Tahi-One 2004 Hawke’s Bay ***** 94
Gold and Trophy winner at the 2006 Air New Zealand Wine Awards, this is an outstanding example of Bordeaux-style red from the famous Gimblett Gravels. Deep red/purple colour, a fragrant bouquet of plum jam, dried fruit, floral notes combined with sweet oak. The palate is opulent with excellent concentration and balance. It has a dense, weighty mid palate together with silky texture and fine firm tannins. Lovely acid balance gives freshness to the wine and adds to the superb structure. Cabernet Sauvignon 72%, Merlot 15%, Cabernet Franc 13%. At its best: now to 2012.

Tahi-One 2005 Hawke’s Bay ***** 96
Another profound effort from this outstanding producer. Initially the wine showed little but with time in the glass it opened up to a magnificent wine showing purity of fruit and depth of flavour you’d expect from a top-end Classed Growth Bordeaux. The colour is inky red/purple, the following nose reveals immaculate Cabernet fragrance of cassis combined with gentle oak spice and cigar. The palate is beautifully proportioned with concentrated fruit, fine acidity, exquisite texture and sturdy tannins. Outstanding line and length. Best of all the wine does not show overripe porty characters but posses refreshing quality, balance and structure. This is an exceptional wine that will evolve gracefully and I urge readers to secure this rare wine when it is released. Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Cabernet Franc 22%. At its best: 2009 to 2018.

Turtle Bay Wines
Syrah 2006 Hawke's Bay **** 88
This is an absolute gem! A delightfully vibrant wine that has captured the Hawke’s Bay sun and is now showing it off. Medium-deep red/purple in colour, ripe cherries and raspberries on the nose with a gorgeous fruity palate. It is beautifully balanced and fresh with fine grain tannins leaving the finish nice and clean. A youthful wine but it is so delicious. At its best: now to 2009. $19.95

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