2005 Puriri Hills Reserve Merlot Carmerere Cab Franc. What is it about this wine? It surely is a wine that lives right on the edge. There is enough for people not to like about this wine to ensure that anyone that has a cursory glance at has food enough for an indifferent response. When the wine is first opened the nose can seem a little charry at times, a little herbal on others and perhaps a trace of brett that could upset others. After a little while everything seems to settle down and the more obvious questionable aromas blow off.

It is a dark purple garnet in the glass. The nose offers Brazil nut, fragrant herbs and violets, brambly fruit with shards of cassis. On the palate, waves of flavour cascade across the mouth. Silken and slippery tannins deliver rich, opulently textured fruit giving an expansive and mouth filling experience. Flavours of rich plum and cocoa are underpinned by a very faint leafiness and notes of blackcurrant. The acids are fresh and in balance with the fruit richness giving definition, poise and a fine structure. The fruit is concentrated and the finish is incredibly long and persistent. 99+/109

I bought enough of these to forgive the odd piece of impatience, but for those with just one or two bottles of this I’d advise you hold onto them for another three or so years before opening. The experiences we have had with older vintages suggest this wine will continue to improve.

Update: A day later the remains of this bottle had lost its herbal undertone and really displayed masses of dark fruit, texture, depth and super concentration.  How will this wine develop!!??