2022 Craggy Range - Te Kahu Red Hawke's Bay (750ml)

Te Kahu takes its name from the Māori word for "the cloak," referring to the mist that often shrouds Craggy Range's Giants Winery in the Tukituki Valley during early morning hours. The fruit is grown in Hawke's Bay's Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, an 850-hectare region considered the warmest vineyard area in New Zealand, with average summer temperatures only a degree or two cooler than Napa's Oakville district. Rock beds over 90 feet deep act as natural heat incubators, absorbing sun during the day and releasing it at night, allowing Cabernet and especially Merlot to reach a level of ripeness rarely achieved elsewhere in New Zealand. Within this site, Craggy Range has planted a 100-hectare vineyard at intensive density specifically for red and white Bordeaux varieties and Syrah.

The grapes are hand harvested and destemmed, fermented in stainless steel, and matured in oak barriques before bottling. This bold but balanced red blend leads with Merlot, supported by varying proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot that shift each vintage to best express the style.

The 2022 vintage is Merlot-dominant, with the two Cabernet varieties contributing savory herbs, spice, graphite, and toasted dark chocolate alongside appealing dark cherry and blackberry fruit. A lovely lift of acidity and fine, savory tannins carry through to a long finish marked by violets and tangy blue and blackberry fruit. Elegant and expressive, it represents real value for the quality in the glass.

Pair with roasted meats or a rich winter vegetable casserole.