Wild Rock is a sizeable producer with wines from fruit originating from Hawke’s Bay (Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot Malbec), Martinborough (Pinot Noir), Marlborough (Sauvignon Blanc) and Central Otago (Rosé, Pinot Noir). It is a label that has been guided by the experienced hands of Steve Smith MW, perhaps best known for his role in Craggy Range.
Gravel Pit Red, a Merlot-Malbec blend with a salt and pepper seasoning of the two Cabernets, is made from Hawke’s Bay fruit. It is a wine that boasts a good show record in New Zealand. The nose certainly lives up to the reputation, delivering a complex array of berry fruit characters intermingled with liquorice and violets. Although the palate doesn’t live up to the initial promise of the bouquet, it is a well made, clean as a whistle wine that would deliver pleasure for many drinkers.
Although pitched at a slightly more modest level than the Craggy Range wines, it does share (to this drinker) with its sister label the attribute of being well made, yet not fully satisfying, and certainly not sufficiently compelling to want to buy a second bottle.
2009 GRAVEL PIT RED
Producer: Wild Rock
Variety: Merlot, Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Region: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $25.00
Date tasted: 1 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Deep plum red fading slightly at the rim. Lively and reasonably complex nose of damson, blackberry, dark plums and liquorice, fruit pastilles, slightly floral edge. The promise on the nose doesn’t quite flow through to the palate, which is medium bodied and fruit driven with soft supple tannins, but finishes a touch short. There’s a pleasant balance of sweet and sour, but not enough depth to merit a higher rating.
Score: 15/20
Gravel Pit Red, a Merlot-Malbec blend with a salt and pepper seasoning of the two Cabernets, is made from Hawke’s Bay fruit. It is a wine that boasts a good show record in New Zealand. The nose certainly lives up to the reputation, delivering a complex array of berry fruit characters intermingled with liquorice and violets. Although the palate doesn’t live up to the initial promise of the bouquet, it is a well made, clean as a whistle wine that would deliver pleasure for many drinkers.
Although pitched at a slightly more modest level than the Craggy Range wines, it does share (to this drinker) with its sister label the attribute of being well made, yet not fully satisfying, and certainly not sufficiently compelling to want to buy a second bottle.
2009 GRAVEL PIT RED Producer: Wild Rock
Variety: Merlot, Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Region: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $25.00
Date tasted: 1 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Deep plum red fading slightly at the rim. Lively and reasonably complex nose of damson, blackberry, dark plums and liquorice, fruit pastilles, slightly floral edge. The promise on the nose doesn’t quite flow through to the palate, which is medium bodied and fruit driven with soft supple tannins, but finishes a touch short. There’s a pleasant balance of sweet and sour, but not enough depth to merit a higher rating.
Score: 15/20
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