Every year we taste this Esk Valley wine and every year we ask ourselves (rhetorically): Is this the most under-priced red wine in NZ? 2021 continues the trend and is another incredibly sophisticated wine from winemaker Gordon Russell, a reminder of why his winemaking colleagues at Villa Maria refer to him as Mr Merlot. Normally not a grape that excites great fireworks, Gordon manages to make it sing beautifully, the nose of this wine just pure fantasy for a lover of Bordeaux-style blends. This 100% Gimblett Gravels red blend is incredibly pure and very deeply fruited, it shows impressive structure too for a wine so modestly priced. Expect many gold medals this vintage (they have almost become de rigeur)
