Waiheke Island Red by Goldwater 2003/2005

Winemakers Notes

The 2005 harvest was the best red wine harvest on Waiheke since 1987. Summer was hot and autumn was dry allowing the red grapes to reach tannin and flavour development not seen on Waiheke for years.

The fruit was hand picked and fermented in a mixture of small open top and closed stainless steel fermenters with gentle daily plunging and pumping over of the grape skins to gently extract maximum flavour and a balanced tannin structure. Keeping the wine in small parcels allows the individual characteristics of each clone and site to be retained, these wines were then blended in a ratio of 44 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc and then aged in predominantly French oak barriques, 20% new, for 15 months.

The wine has been matured for a number of years before release so the colour is starting to show some maturity but with a deep colour still to the rim of the glass. The wine has aromas of fragrant, dark plums, deep red fruits and black liquorice. Straw and spicy oak linger in the background. Fine and dry tannins combine with flavours that reflect a warmer year, dark red fruits, dried currants and plum. The length is intense, appealing and balanced by a supple tannin structure.

The wine is ready to drink now but can be cellared till 2010 and beyond.