From the Cellar: Ascension Vineyard The Benediction Merlot Hawkes Bay 2010 – $$$

A long while back I took L along as my date for the first time to my firms Christmas function. We flew up to Auckland and took a chartered bus ride up to Matakana. It was a great day, hot and sunny. We had a look around the local market before heading out to Ascension Vineyard for a winery tour and lunch. On the way there we took part in a wine quiz. My team won (of course 🙂 ). My prize was the selection of this bottle from the vineyard’s cellar door…

…which I opened up at the RSC Lodge on Swiss National Day (the club has had resident Swiss instructors every season since the mid-50’s).

13.5% alc. Deep crimson. This wine started life inside 70 yr-old two-inch thick Totara fermentation vats.

Tertiary on the nose. Soft black plum, Cedar. Vanilla. Wood. Great structure and grainy tannins. Dark chocolate and a spicy finish. Very long. Just fabulous.

A real shame but this producer went out of business last year or the year before. The wine business is a tough one…

BTVG 4+